(Psa 19:14) Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
We've come to understand that ‘we are what we eat'. In the physical, that may be true. But in the spiritual, we are what we say. (Mat 12:33-37) Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. ....for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
So...we'll be judged by our words. What we say has eternal consequences. That's pretty serious. The above scriptures make it clear that what comes out of our mouth is a reflection of what is in our hearts. If our hearts are full of materialism, it will be obvious by what we like to talk about. If we are taken up with ourselves, it will be easily heard. If our thoughts are hateful, judgmental, proud, jealous, or angry, it will all come to light in our conversation. It will also come to light when we appear before the judgment seat of Christ. (2 Cor 5:10) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
A good way to cure ourselves of unhealthy conversation is to ask God to make us aware of our thought patterns. Paul counseled the brethren in Phil 4:8 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. It sounds as if we are responsible for our thought life, doesn't it? In prayer we can ask God to sanctify us and our thought life. We can ask His forgiveness for backbiting, for bitterness, for materialism, for gazing at television, magazines, books, movies, or anything that fills us with lust or worldly thoughts. We can ask Him to give us a hunger for His Word and things eternal. The problem of unholy meditations can be overcome by meditations on God's Word, prayer and consecration of our lives to God. (James 1:25) But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. Let's read Eph. 3:14-4:3 and pray this prayer for ourselves.
1) If my words aren't pleasing to God, what might by the problem? ________________
2) How can I change my thought patterns? ___________________________________
3) What serious consequences might be in store for me if I continue as I am? ________
4) What can I do to bring change? __________________________________________
5) How can meditating on God's Word help to bring change? _____________________
6) Why would asking forgiveness of God and people help me? ___________________________________________________________________