Running water. What a blessing! I turn on the faucet, and out it comes. Sometimes the water is hot. Sometimes it’s cold. But the water is consistently clean and available.

I think Jesus was like that. Consistent and available. When people drew near, He gave clean, clear water. Sometimes a hot rebuke. Sometimes a refreshingly cold wake-up. But always life-giving water.

Scripture tells us our faucets aren’t so consistent.

“If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check . . .With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” (James 3: 2,9-10 NIV)

For our water to run clean and clear, to give life and not death, we need to check the plumbing.

What’s coming from your faucet? Worry, anger, fear? Or encouragement, wise counsel, and grace? Is your water murky? Does it smell? Are you clear one day but cloudy the next?

The water we produce comes from the overflow of our hearts. I don’t think about the source of the water for my home. I trust someone else is covering that. However, guarding the heart is my job.

Proverbs 4: 23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

And of my mouth.

How to keep it clean? Here are some lessons from a guy who knows how to keep water clean—the pool guy.

Test the Water: What’s going in it? Check your entertainment/media sources.

Are your filters clogged? Do they need cleaning? Some confession and repentance?

Do you need some shock to kill the bacteria and algae? Stay in God’s Word.

Keep it Moving: Still water is stagnant water. Are you walking in obedience? What was the last thing God told you to do? Are you doing it?

Open the Valve: Meet with God regularly outside of church. Living water must be received from Him first before we pass it to others.

God designed us for overflow. What we say overflows from what we think and feel. Our heart condition affects our mouth’s articulation. Guard the heart. Safeguard the mouth.

Questions:

Which is easier to control—your thoughts or your words?

What affects your words most?

What have you found best redirects your thoughts?

What has proven a good guard for your heart?

Tweetables:

Jesus' flow of living water was consistent. Scripture tells us our flow isn’t. Click To Tweet
What’s coming from your faucet? Click To Tweet
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” And of your mouth. Click To Tweet
God designed us for overflow. Click To Tweet
Guard the heart. Safeguard the mouth. Click To Tweet

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