Proverbs 23:7 (KJV)

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:”

It all starts and ends in our hearts. What we allow in our hearts will grow. Just like a garden, if you plant a certain seed, that is what will grow. We have to realize that out of the heart comes our true intentions. We can put on our mask and fool those around us for a little while, but eventually, our true intentions will surface. If we have love and mercy in our hearts, that is what will surface; if we have hate and malice, that is what will surface. When we are under pressure, what is inside always comes out. You know that “stick your foot in your mouth” moment? Those times when you say, “Did I actually just say that out loud?”.

Matthew 15:18-20 (KJV)

18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

We cannot fool ourselves into thinking that the bad seeds will stay hidden.  Whatever is in our hearts will come out under pressure. When you get angry over something, what comes out? Do you approach the situation with anger, or do you reach out with kindness and love? Whatever reaction you have, that is what lurks in your heart. I know that is not pleasant to hear, but this is very important to recognize.

The challenge for us all is to continue to search our hearts, weed out the bad stuff, and plant more seeds of love and mercy.