Guard Your Heart & Home: Pursuing Peace in Your Living SpaceSample

Blessing and Cursing

Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

James 3:10 NIV

A fountain of water never produces both disgusting poisonous water and clear spring water at the same time. In much the same way, our mouths can betray a poisonous center of our hearts indicating a lack of spiritual discipline. The Bible talks often about being rooted and grounded in love, and about the fruit of the spirit displayed in our lives. We are known by our fruit and how it demonstrates growth in our relationships with God and our husbands.

Understanding the need for spiritual discipline as it relates specifically to our tongues helps us deal with the truth about our selfish sinful hearts. I’m sure you’ve heard the old adage “garbage in, garbage out.” It really is so true—what’s in our heart overflows, and if we haven’t been careful to cultivate what’s true and holy and just, we will often display what’s false, sinful, and unkind. We can’t expect love to overflow if our hearts are full of hate. We can’t expect to extend grace to our spouse if we haven’t seen the beauty of grace manifested in our own lives. We can’t expect to overflow with kindness or mercy if we sit and steep in the ugliness of our negative thoughts.

We cannot overflow with both blessing and cursing. If you find yourself overwhelmed with negativity and feeling bogged down, check your source. Are you filling yourself with the milk and meat of God’s Word, or are you being satisfied by the garbage the world has to offer? If you don’t like your output, switch your supply!

 Lord, control the overflow of my mouth today. Let me be a blessing to others.

Thank you to End Game Press for supplying this devotional from the Guard Your Heart & Home series.

The multi-award-winning book series combining beautiful home decor & Scriptural truths returns for a third title!  Get it here: https://www.amazon.com/Guard-Your-Heart-Home-Pursuing/dp/1637970021