Your Words = Your Heart




This week at college, I picked up a copy of the 2016 edition of the college's "Literary Magazine" that students submit to and create, with poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, and artwork.  I was simply curious to read what people in my college would write, so I read it throughout my day at school.

I was very discouraged.

My discouragement had nothing to do with the grammar or the quality of the writing (though come to think of it, there were some pieces that needed some definite editing....).  No, I was discouraged by what came through in those pieces.

Depression.  Confusion.  Loneliness. Frustration.  Death.

Our of all of the pieces of writing and artwork in that magazine, maybe two were in some way positive.  The rest?  They were really very depressing.  As a writer, I realize that not everything you write will be happy and wonderful, because you write what's on your heart.  But what seemed to be on a lot of those writers' hearts was some form of darkness.

That's why I was discouraged.  So many of those words revealed a hurting heart, a possibly depressed heart.  Hearts that are allowing Satan to suppress joy and life.  It made me think of some verses that talk about what's in your heart will come out in your life.

Proverbs 15:13: A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by the sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Proverbs 17:22: A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Proverbs 23:7a: For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.

Luke 6:45: A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

But as Christians, the joy of the Lord and His love are to be in our hearts - Jesus Christ is to rule our hearts!  John 14:1 says "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." And, we are to introduce this trust, peace, love, joy, new life! to those who have darkness in their hearts.  Remember, your words show your heart, and the heart of those around you - so when you see a hurting, depressed, dark heart, shine the light of Jesus into it.

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