A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. Luke 6:45
What are we hearing? What are we seeing? What are we thinking? What are we saying? What are we doing? What is the condition of our heart?
James 3:10-12 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
James 3 discusses “taming the tongue”, and how difficult it is to control. The point of it all is to know that what comes out of our mouth, comes from what lies within us. As human beings, we’re made up of mind, body, and soul. We must guard the heart and protect the mind, so that the soul has any chance to flourish. What’s missing in today’s Christian? I believe it’s the real and absolute presence of the Holy Spirit. But who understand this? Who’s experienced the presence of the living God? How can we crave or desire HIM, if we don’t know what we don’t know about the Holy Spirit and how the Spirit can be THE difference in our lives?
The power of the Holy Spirit is evident in a Christ followers walk. And we know that the presence of God changes everything. So why waste time chasing things that do not produce a mind and heart condition that will foster the Holy Spirit’s presence. Apostle Paul said this in Romans 7:21-22 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.
So the battle we fight is one we cannot see, but exists between our flesh and the Spirit of God within us. Once saved by God’s grace, we begin the journey of sanctification; becoming more like Christ. We learn throughout life that to win this fight between flesh and blood, that only the presence of God, through the Holy Spirit, can lead us to living the life God intended for us (his children). Being led by the spirit is where we experience the fullness of God and the miracles of living in his economy. I know what it sounds like; “maybe one day I’ll do that, or at some point I’ll look for God.” If we only realized we could experience HIS presence now.., we’d be able to live our best life and fulfill our life’s purpose and calling.
When God told Moses to take his people out of Egypt, Moses was quick to request that God go with him and before him; “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” Exodus 33:15 Isn’t this where we all want to be? We want to be “with” the LORD and for HIM to be “with” us. If God is for us, who dare be against us! Romans 8:31
Let’s guard our hearts, guard our minds, and create an atmosphere to hear from him. Once we’ve been given a word from God and we know it’s from him, we can be on fire for God in a way that changes everything. Time to conquer the world with God at the center of it all.