Mathew 12:33-34 12Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Like David, the psalmist, let’s ask the Lord to look at our hearts.

We don’t simply commit sinful actions. Those actions spring from a deep root in our hearts. The fruit on a tree doesn’t simply appear. It comes from the kind of tree that bears it. Our hearts are similar, and the metaphor of fruit is a good one to describe what goes on there. Our actions spring from something deep within us. So when we struggle with sin, it is not primarily outward actions that we are really dealing with. Sinful actions are the fruit that comes from a sinful root in our hearts.

Outside of Christ, we have no hope. Our hearts are wicked and, like those that Jesus describes in Matthew 12, will only bear bad fruit. However, those of us who have believed in Jesus have been given a new heart. That new heart can now bear new righteous fruit. The process of Christian sanctification is to continually and increasingly uproot any remaining sin in our hearts that is leading to sinful actions and allow the Lord to plant seeds in the soil of our new hearts in Christ that will grow into a harvest of righteousness.

The heart is the fountain, and words are the streams. A troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring, must send forth muddy and unpleasant streams. Nothing but the salt of grace, cast into the spring, will heal the waters, season the speech, and purify the corrupt communication. An evil man has an evil treasure in his heart, and out of it brings forth evil things. Lusts and corruptions, dwelling and reigning in the heart, are an evil treasure, out of which the sinner brings forth bad words and actions, to dishonor God, and hurt others. Let us keep constant watch over ourselves, so that we may speak words agreeable to the Christian character.- Bible Hub

Pause: Find a quiet and peaceful place for a moment of reflection. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, allowing the day’s cares to fall away. Begin by examining your heart. Are there any negative emotions, bitterness, or unspoken judgments that need to be addressed? Reflect on the words you’ve spoken recently. Have they been words of love, encouragement, and truth, or have they caused harm or division?

 We must consistently evaluate the contents of our hearts, asking ourselves whether we’re nurturing qualities that align with the love and grace of Christ or allowing negativity and impurity to take root within us. Guarding our hearts is not a one-time endeavor but a lifelong commitment to self-reflection, prayer, and constant growth in our relationship with God.