Daily Worship

From the heart

Christine Colliar August 21, 2026 8 0
heart_envelope_communication_craft_unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Listen to this daily worship

Matthew 15: 10-20 (NIV-UK)

10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.’

12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?’

13 He replied, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.’

15 Peter said, ‘Explain the parable to us.’

16 ‘Are you still so dull?’ Jesus asked them. 17 ‘Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts – murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.’

Words have a way of lingering. A kind word can stay with us for years. So can a cruel one.

We can replay a conversation long after it has ended, hearing again what was said — or what was left unsaid.

Jesus reminds us that words do not appear from nowhere. They begin deep within us. Our speech gives voice to what fills our hearts.

That may be why kindness matters so much — it is more than good manners, it is the fruit of a heart being shaped by God.

Before you speak today, pause. Let your words grow in the quiet places of your heart, until they are ready to bring life, hope and peace.

 

Prayer:

 

Lord,

search my heart

before I open my mouth.

 

Where my words would wound,

grow compassion.

 

Where they would divide,

grow understanding.

 

Where they would silence,

grow encouragement.

 

May the words of my mouth

carry the love

that has taken root in my heart.

 

Amen

 

What can I do? Write a prayer asking God to guide you in speaking words from the heart.