Nancy Ortberg writes the following:
I am by words and actions constantly revealing the state of my heart. When we lived in a small valley town in California, I was Christmas shopping one day. It was rather late in the season, and I had to run out and get a few last minute things.
At Christmas time, you know what it's like simply to find a parking spot in the jungle.
I finally spotted this old couple walking very slowly to their car. I thought, If I can follow them down the aisle and wait for them to get into their car, that parking space will be mine! So I waited patiently with my blinker on.
The couple put their gifts in the trunk, and he opened the door for his wife. I thought, There's no time for chivalry. Get in the car and go.
They pulled out slowly, and as I was ready to turn in, a beat
up, old van pulled in front of me and took my space. I got out of my car and had a chat with the driver. Had my mother been there, she would have washed my mouth out with soap. I chatted so long and hard and with such interesting words that he backed out of the parking space.
I felt good initially. I thought, I'm good. I stood up for my
rights. I'm pretty feisty. But then, the verse came into my head that says, "The things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean'" (Matthew 15:18).
The painful truth is the Bible says the condition of my heart is reflected by what comes out of my mouth and how I live my life.
Many days after that I came to the conclusion I was wrong. I told God my actions and words did indeed reflect the condition of my heart, and I wasn't proud of it.*
I have personally struggled with some of the same issues in my own life; of wanting to be heard, desiring to be "right," and choosing to act on those impulses at the expense
of other's feelings. It's not something that I am proud of, and every day I ask God to create a clean heart in me. He's still working on me, and I'm thankful for His patience.
Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart by acceptable in Your sight today.
Amen!
Have a great day and God bless!
