Matthew 12:37 – For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. (NIV)

I do a lot of reading, a lot of listening, a lot of watching television, and, sometimes, a lot of talking. I like to say nice things to people, and I like for them to say nice things to me. I love art and beauty, and I struggle to put my thoughts and ideas into words. I also like truth, but I hesitate sometimes to speak what is true and noble because I also like peace, which is sometimes destroyed when my version of truth is spoken.

Somewhere between the intake of information and the output of words, we can get into lots of trouble. In a world-system like we live in today, if we read and listen to the media, processing the "in" and the "out" becomes a tremendous problem. We encounter a lot of garbage. Even when we avoid all we can and reject what we can't avoid, if we are not discerning, our minds can become defiled.

Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about these things. (NIV)

We need to concentrate on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. We need to filter carefully what is taken into our minds, so that what comes out of our mouths will be wholesome, truthful, and worthy of a Christian.

Prayer: Lord, may the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to You and build up Your kingdom. Amen.

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