A Faith That Works When Life Doesn’t: Part 1Sample

What Does Your Tongue Reveal About Your Heart?

There is no real secret to changing from an angry person into a peaceful person. In order to get the power you need to go from anger to peace, you need to be filled with God’s love.

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:5, "[Love] is not easily angered" (NIV). In other words, if you’re filled with anger, then almost everything can upset you. But when you’re filled with God’s love, your perspective changes.

Being filled with God’s love requires that you have a relationship with him. Your relationship with Jesus Christ will determine how patient you are and how well you master anger.

This means you can change. You can do it through the Holy Spirit! When you become a Christian, you have God’s power living in you. Even in a crisis—when people are out of work, kids are at home, and people are in isolation—you have all the power you need to make the hard changes in your life.

And it starts by looking at your heart. Matthew 12:34 says, "For whatever is in your heart determines what you say" (NLT).

Here are some things the tongue can reveal:

• A harsh tongue reveals an angry heart.
• A negative tongue reveals a fearful heart.
• A boasting tongue reveals an insecure heart.
• An overactive tongue reveals an unsettled heart.
• A judgmental tongue reveals a guilty heart.
• A critical tongue reveals a bitter heart.

If your tongue reveals an angry heart, then ask God to heal your hurting heart with his love. The anger in your heart may come from feeling rejected, abused, or unloved in the past. You need to know that Jesus cares about your pain. He can replace the hurt in your heart with his peace and replace your insecurity with his power.

As you begin to feel accepted in God’s love, your heart will change and produce the fruit of patience and kindness. God promises, “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you” (Ezekiel 36:26 ESV). 

Talk It Over

• What does it mean to be filled with God’s love? To be directed by God’s love?
• If people went by how you speak and react to others, what would be the first words they use to describe your heart?
• Why does feeling secure in God’s love help you show more love and patience to other people?

This devotional © 2021 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.