“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 of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” Luke 6:45
When I was a teenager, my mom gave me a hope chest. This was for me to put in all the things that I might want to have when I married. I added things through the years, and when I married John, I finally was able to take out all the wonderful things that I had saved. Among the many treasures I had stored were cute kitchen towels, a beautiful shawl passed down from my grandmother, several items from Japan, and a quilt that my friend had made for me. Everything that I withdrew from my hope chest had been lovingly chosen to be in there. I did not expect to find anything I had not placed inside of it.
That is just like my heart. Everything that is in it has been placed there by me! There is nothing within it that I did not allow to enter. Therefore, the only things that I can bring out from my heart are the things that I put in. That means that songs from my youth are there as well as hymns that I sing in church. Images from long ago are side-by-side with the vivid pictures from yesterday’s morning walk. Unfortunately, along with the wonderful Bible verses I’ve memorized over the years, there are a few coarse jokes that I shudder at when I recollect them.
Why is it so important to guard what I put into my heart? Today’s verse reminds me that what is in my heart is what will come out of my mouth! Sadly, some of those things that I never should have put into my heart in the first place manage to come out when I least expect it. Those things can damage my testimony for Jesus! Oh, how I wish I would have kept the garbage out of my heart!
I cannot change my past, but I can control my future, especially when it comes to what I allow into my heart. I need to fill my heart with the good things of God! Therefore, I should do exactly as Philippians 4:8 instructs me. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence, O Lord,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of your salvation,
and renew a right spirit within me.
(from “Create in Me a Clean Heart”- author unknown)
“My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.” Proverbs 23:15
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What are the “Philippian 4:8 things” you can put into your heart today?