45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Luke 6:45 (NKJV)

Quote of the Day

“Surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of man he is.”

— C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Reflection

We often discover what fills our hearts when life gives us a sudden jolt, and something spills out. A frustrating interruption. An unexpected insult. Someone cutting us off in traffic. A disagreement with someone we love. 

In moments like these, we don’t always have time to construct a response carefully. Our guard drops, and whatever has been simmering beneath the surface can suddenly spill out. Today’s verse provides critical context for understanding these moments.

We shouldn’t underestimate our words. A word fitly spoken can offer tremendous wisdom and value to those within earshot (Proverbs 25:11). Meanwhile, careless speech is capable of doing much more harm than we might expect. In Proverbs, we examine a clear picture of this:

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” 

Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV)

These situations are best understood through the lens of long-term habits. Any of us can falter in an isolated moment, but perhaps the more practical measure of self-control revolves around our habits. What are we cultivating in our hearts? Are we quick to forgive? Are we quick to relinquish grudges, anger, resentment, and bitterness (Ephesians 4:31-32)? 

Our lives aren’t defined by one moment of weakness or poor judgment. They’re built by consistency over a long time horizon. There are some well-intentioned people, even believers, who have adopted the self-destructive habit of complaining and a lifestyle of ungratefulness. None of us is immune from having a moment characterized by these issues, but we’re remarkably better off when we practice gratitude, contentment, and joy in the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Think about a difficult day when you persistently complained and overlooked God’s blessings in your life. The circumstances may genuinely have been difficult, but challenges don’t erase God’s faithfulness.

The difference isn’t always found in the circumstances themselves, but in what has been cultivated within the heart. When gratitude fills our hearts, thanksgiving is more likely to overflow from our mouths. When resentment is allowed to accumulate, complaining can become our default language.

If this hits close to home, I would encourage you to evaluate your present circumstances and acknowledge God’s provision for you. Don’t wait for the perfect day to come around before you thank God for where you are now. Don’t defer your joy, expecting that after a certain milestone you’ll finally experience fulfillment. The reality is that if you’re not satisfied in Jesus Christ, there’s nothing that will offer you the level of joy, satisfaction, and pleasure that God opens the door for us to find through Him today.

Application

The overflow of our hearts should refresh rather than poison those around us. We need our minds to be transformed through God’s Word. As we submit ourselves to God and allow His Word to renew our minds, we begin developing a healthier thought life (Romans 12:2). What we repeatedly dwell upon can eventually overflow from our hearts as words that either build up or tear down.

We must learn from the lessons of James and renew our perspective. A pattern of needless negativity, habitual complaining, or seemingly harmless dishonesty may appear insignificant, but compromises like these can become footholds the adversary uses in our lives. Just as a small fire can cause a wildfire if left untamed, so can the tongue destroy a massive amount of good (James 3:5-6).

Instead, we should guard our tongues and exercise self-control (James 3:2; Proverbs 21:23). The restraint may feel like an uphill battle at first, but as God continues to transform your mind, purify your heart, and reshape your thought life, that inward work will increasingly affect the words you speak.

The process may take significant time, but like most things worth doing, it requires sustained effort and practice. Jesus warns that we will give an account for every idle word we speak (Matthew 12:36). That should give us a healthy reverence for the weight of our speech. That’s not because we earn salvation through perfect words, but because our words matter to God and reveal something about what is taking place within us.

We may have stumbled many times, but God’s grace can transform even the most hardened heart. If God is convicting you today, I assure you, you won’t regret beginning to cultivate healthier, Christ-centered habits. As you examine your thoughts, focus on the right things. God desires for our minds to dwell on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).

We cannot afford to let cynicism and persistent negativity establish a stronghold in our minds. Left unchecked, these patterns can open the door to compromise in thought, word, and eventually action.

Instead, imagine the positive overflow you can experience as you immerse yourself in God’s Word. The tongue that once put others down can increasingly become a tongue that deliberately builds people up (Ephesians 4:29). Imagine knowing that your words consistently leave people encouraged, strengthened, and pointed toward what is good. Your speech can become a source of grace to those who hear it.

None of us is perfect, but as we learn to wield our tongues with discipline, gracious speech can become a part of who we are. No longer do you feel as though you’re simply forcing compliance. Self-control may begin with restraining what desperately wants to come out, but spiritual maturity goes deeper. As God transforms the heart, our speech can increasingly become an authentic overflow rather than an exercise in restraint (Colossians 4:6).

Eventually, you become repulsed by the patterns that once characterized the old version of you and discover the incalculable value of walking as a new creation in all things (2 Corinthians 5:17). Now your thoughts, words, and actions increasingly align with the person God desires you to become.

Don’t hold a ledger against yourself based on the past. If this describes your struggle, consider this the moment where you found forgiveness in Jesus Christ and turned the page. Destroy the ledger of your past mistakes, and walk in the assurance of a fresh start today. If applicable, give yourself grace as you make deliberate changes, but continue surrendering yourself to God’s work. Through persistent obedience and dependence on the Holy Spirit, we can increasingly experience His transforming work in our hearts, minds, and speech.

Prayer

Dear God,

Thank You, Father, for Your Word. Thank You for the leading of Your Holy Spirit. If not for You, I wouldn’t find it possible to restrain my tongue. Please help me abide in Your Son, Jesus Christ, so that I may bear good fruit. Father, I need Your help to ensure my speech is seasoned with the same mercy, grace, love, and forgiveness You’ve shown me throughout my life.

Please continue to guide me in accordance with Your will. I am grateful that Your Word provides me with the blueprint necessary to experience transformation of my mind and heart. Please help me continually immerse myself in Your Word and, through the power of Your Spirit, increasingly align my thoughts, words, and actions with Your will.

Thank You for the access I have to Your Word. I know some of my brothers and sisters in Christ around the globe don’t have the same luxury. Please write Your Word on the tablets of their hearts and help them access it as Your provision abounds in their lives.

Please help me remember that my words and actions matter to You while simultaneously holding onto the assurance of Your grace. I know I am not defined by my past mistakes, and recognize that such grace isn’t designed for me to become numb to sin. 

Thank You for giving me a sensitivity of conscience and heart that desires to live a life of excellence in Your name. I know I have fallen short of that standard many times, but I am so thankful for Your help getting back on track when I have stumbled.

You’ve blessed me beyond measure, and I am thankful that You have also forgiven me for all my sins countless times. Please help me to confess my sins, accept Your forgiveness, and remember that You also cleanse me of all unrighteousness according to Your Word.

Without You, Your Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, I would be doomed. Yet, with You, I pray You help me turn away from habitual sin and make the changes You lead me to make. I surrender to Your will and ask for Your guidance as to what it is I ought to do to tame my tongue one step at a time. All of us have room for improvement. Please meet us where we are and help us not to stay there.

I pray in Jesus Christ’s precious, holy, and mighty name.

Amen.

Verse of the Day

¹³ Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ¹⁴ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV)

Quote of the Day

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” 

– C.S. Lewis

Reflection

The moment anyone thinks they’ve achieved mastery of something is the moment they stop learning. The mentality of recognizing our limitations and seeing that there’s always more to learn, especially when it comes to the things of God, is a blessing (Romans 11:33). It cultivates humility (Philippians 2:3), growth (James 4:10), and reliance on God instead of ourselves (Proverbs 3:5-6). As we develop these attributes and grow in faith, God allows us to share what we learn with others who may benefit from the lessons God has been instilling in us over time (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Paul elaborates on this in today’s verses. In verse 13, he emphasizes that he hasn’t yet apprehended it. The Apostle Paul wrote roughly half the New Testament and did great things in the name of the Lord with God’s help. But he tells us that he didn’t consider himself to have attained perfection. A lifestyle of sanctification is not about perfection; it’s about a continual desire to move in that direction, with Jesus Christ as our focus (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8).

The latter part of the verse says, “…but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead…” It reminds us not to dwell on our past mistakes. Ruminating on the way we’ve struggled has no advantage. Thinking briefly on it to see how we improve from past experiences may have a place, but when we allow the past to consume our thoughts, we are not walking in faith (Isaiah 43:18-19). There’s freedom in letting go of them because it lightens our load, helps us forgive past offenses, and allows us to use our full capacity for what matters.

The phrase, “…reaching forward to those things which are ahead…” gives us a hint. It’s not about looking ahead with worry or anxiety (Matthew 6:34). I think it’s about considering what lies ahead so that we draw confidence from Jesus Christ to make the most of the present (1 John 5:14-15). If our eyes remain fixed on the Lord, that vision empowers us to do better right now. The assurance of eternal security (John 10:28-30), unconditional love (Romans 8:38-39), satisfaction (John 6:35), and joy (Nehemiah 8:10) are all fruit of emphasizing Jesus Christ over everything else (Philippians 2:9-11). 

Nothing can separate us from the love of God, and His Son reconciles us to Him (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). That kind of certainty and security opens the door for us to serve God wholeheartedly, without the issues of the past or the worries of the future unnecessarily weighing us down (Jeremiah 29:13).

Application

Verse 14 shows us Paul’s mindset. As a result of not considering himself to have apprehended completion of his God-given goals, there was still work to do. He hadn’t yet accomplished his mission; since he was alive and breathing, he knew God wanted him to stay on track (Hebrews 12:1-2). He says it plainly, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” 

Notice the goal revolves completely around the upward call of Jesus Christ upon his life. The goal isn’t fame, money, status, self-fulfillment, comfort, or any other worldly amenity. It’s about sharing God’s word and accomplishing God’s will (1 Peter 2:15-17, Matthew 28:18-20).

Our quote of the day gives us a practical nugget of wisdom. We can’t change history, so there’s no real incentive to dwell on it. It focuses on what we can change; that is where we still have influence. God can still transform our lives right now (Romans 12). He can restore our health or answer our prayers. He can enrich our lives with joy and infuse us with a greater sense of purpose.

Even in all these things, we recognize and thank Him for the blessings He has chosen to grace us with (1 Thessalonians 5:18). But we must always remind ourselves that they’re not given solely for our benefit. The beneficiaries of our time, energy, resources, and talents should ultimately be other people (1 Peter 4:10). 

If God has already equipped us in these ways, He has already blessed us a great deal. But the beauty is that the blessing doesn’t need to stop with us. It can proceed to influence and uplift those around us. It’s also pivotal for us to ensure that we remain focused on Christ and don’t lose sight of Him as our ultimate blessing (Numbers 6:22-27). 

We cannot afford to lose our faith when things don’t go our way or when our earthly blessings are compromised. God has the authority to give and take away at His discretion (Job 1:21). May we remain faithful to Him in the good and bad times. Let’s keep seeking God and delighting in Him during the daunting, painful seasons as well as the triumphant seasons (James 1:2-4). He has ordained everything in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).

Keep in mind that God hasn’t forgotten you when life gets hard. He didn’t abandon Job, but we know what he went through (Job 42). God doesn’t owe us the answers to all of life’s questions. Occasionally we may need to fight heavy battles without fully understanding the reason. Other times, we go through those tumultuous seasons, and He offers us insight into why we went through what we did later in life.

The key takeaway is that we must press on. If you’re in a dark place, trust that God will get you through it. He will not abandon you in your time of great need (Hebrews 13:5). If your position is one of victory, embrace that season, and keep in mind that life offers us new challenges all the time. Enjoy every day of good health and opportunities to serve God. We honestly don’t know how long they will last (James 4:13-14). 

May we all continue to draw nearer to the Lord in every circumstance (James 4:8). Some people turn away from Him in times of difficulty and communicate with God only when things are going their way. Others make the opposing but equally significant mistake of seeking God only in the tough times. Meanwhile, they forget about Him when things are going well. Let’s all pursue the Lord fully in every season, knowing that our Lord and Savior wants a relationship with us at all times (Jeremiah 29:13).

Prayer

Dear God,

Thank You, Father, for keeping my eyes on the prize. I know that the ultimate prize is found in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for not abandoning me and staying with me at all times. 

Paul didn’t consider himself to have apprehended the fullness of understanding or the completion of the mission at hand. Likewise, I want to consider his example and, more importantly, emulate Jesus Christ in my pursuit of Your mission for me.

Please continue to equip me with Your full armor, fill me with Your Holy Spirit, and instill in me the peace that surpasses all understanding. Without Your provision, I wouldn’t have the capacity to do anything eternally meaningful.

The joy of the Lord gives me real strength; please help me to remember that. I must always recognize that when I fix my eyes on Jesus Christ, I will retain an eternal mindset. I know that is the only way to maintain true satisfaction, joy, and purpose in my life.

Without Jesus Christ, I would not have anything worthwhile to accomplish or live for. Thankfully, He is always with me, and I know that everything I do for Your glory has eternal value.

Please help me always draw near to You and remain in Your presence, both in times of trial and in times of abundant joy. It’s not easy to remember, in moments of difficulty, that even those have their purpose in Your plan.

Thank You for filling me with Your Holy Spirit. May I always listen to His lead and trust Him to help me when things aren’t going the way I planned. Help me rest in Your sovereignty, knowing things are still going in accordance with Your will. Nothing takes You by surprise.

Lastly, I ask that You would please forgive my numerous sins in Your sight. Please help me to walk the road of repentance and conquer them with Your supernatural help.

I pray in Jesus Christ’s precious, holy, and mighty name.

Amen.