Day 3 - 40 Days of JOY
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of JOY
Day 3 | WATCH OUT: YOUR THOUGHTS ARE SHOWING!
40 Days of JOY
Day 3 | WATCH OUT: YOUR THOUGHTS ARE SHOWING!
WATCH OUT: YOUR THOUGHTS ARE SHOWING!
Luke 6:45
“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.”
Do you often look at yourself in the mirror shortly before guests arrive, checking how you look? Why? Because those guests will SEE you and – if you’re not “together” – might wonder about you! Most everyone wants to look good when they see others and not give a negative impression.
Have you ever considered that what you SAY throughout the day also gives an impression? Good or bad… it does.
Research shows that the average person thinks some 50,000 words a day. These words are either good or bad… and none are neutral. And many of those words are a rehash from yesterday and the days before. We get into a LOOP of sorts.
So how can you tell what is in someone’s heart? What they think about? JUST LISTEN. What comes out of their mouths (and OURS) tells the listener what they have been thinking about.
In this verse today, Jesus makes that clear. “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”
So, LISTEN to people around you today. LISTEN with the quiet intent of trying to determine what is filling their minds and hearts. Listen and quietly see if you can determine whether they are full of negativity or not.
And by the way, this doesn’t only apply to non-Christians; this verse by Jesus applies to EVERYONE. You, me, your friends, family, acquaintances, and people we meet randomly. I’ve seen Christians turn from faith-sounding people to fear-sounding people. It’s understandable… but sad and steals the joy within.
Prayer: LORD, help me to be sensitive to those around me. But most of all, Lord, help me to listen to myself. Help me to focus where YOU want me to focus. Amen.
Luke 6:45
“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.”
Do you often look at yourself in the mirror shortly before guests arrive, checking how you look? Why? Because those guests will SEE you and – if you’re not “together” – might wonder about you! Most everyone wants to look good when they see others and not give a negative impression.
Have you ever considered that what you SAY throughout the day also gives an impression? Good or bad… it does.
Research shows that the average person thinks some 50,000 words a day. These words are either good or bad… and none are neutral. And many of those words are a rehash from yesterday and the days before. We get into a LOOP of sorts.
So how can you tell what is in someone’s heart? What they think about? JUST LISTEN. What comes out of their mouths (and OURS) tells the listener what they have been thinking about.
In this verse today, Jesus makes that clear. “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”
So, LISTEN to people around you today. LISTEN with the quiet intent of trying to determine what is filling their minds and hearts. Listen and quietly see if you can determine whether they are full of negativity or not.
And by the way, this doesn’t only apply to non-Christians; this verse by Jesus applies to EVERYONE. You, me, your friends, family, acquaintances, and people we meet randomly. I’ve seen Christians turn from faith-sounding people to fear-sounding people. It’s understandable… but sad and steals the joy within.
Prayer: LORD, help me to be sensitive to those around me. But most of all, Lord, help me to listen to myself. Help me to focus where YOU want me to focus. Amen.