what you say flows from what is in your heart

A strange thing happened to me this week.  I was talking with a work friend, who is truly a kindred spirit.  I had told her earlier in the week that I was tired and discouraged.  She asked me what I thought was making me so tired, and when I answered, I was a bit surprised by the words that came straight from my heart without passing through my brain.  As I processed through my own words, two Bible verses came to mind.

A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.  What you say flows from what is in your heart. 
Luke 6:45

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.  Proverbs 4:23

I'm glad that I was listening to myself because my words exposed what had taken up residence in my heart.  As I pondered what to do with this newly acquired information, I realized that all of the situations that are weighing on me are out of my control.  The only person I can control is me.

My first instinct is always to run away from situations like these.  If I'm not there, my heart is safe.  Not an option.  I began a mental run through of my other options...  Build a wall around my heart.  Change my personality.  Stop loving and caring for people.  Become a hermit.  The longer I thought about it, the more ridiculous my ideas became. 

And then, quietly, Jesus whispered to me, "Let Me fill your heart."  Perfect answer, perfect solution.  Why didn't I go to Him first?  Why do I always try to figure it out on my own?

If Jesus fills my heart, there isn't room for anything else.  If Jesus fills my heart, He protects it from the inside.  If Jesus fills my heart, what flows from it is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

That is what I want.  It takes time, just like any relationship.  Time reading my Bible, time praying, time listening to Him.  I want my heart to overflow with Jesus so that what I say flows from what (and WHO) is in my heart!