In physics, there is the center of balance, the center of mass. These centers are imaginary point that we can say if a force acts on this point, it acts on the entire mass. People have a center of personality that the Bible calls the heart. Jesus treated the heart with utmost seriousness.
There is a common belief that outside influences impact a human being and can corrupt him. Different foods, places and practices are all regarded as things they exert spiritual influences on a person and can bring blessing or corruption on him. The scripture says words are very powerful and can have a huge spiritual effect. But the effects of corruption or blessing do not come from these outside things.
Jesus says a person is defiled\blessed by what comes out of him. Defilement or blessing are products of what fills a person’s heart. It is as we live out what fills our hearts that we blessed or defiled.
Words are powerful. Scripture urges to watch our words. Words are in one perspective just vibrating air. Vibrating air has not power in the spiritual realm. But words also express a focus of the heart. That’s why they are powerful. It is the heart-focus that connects to the spirit. It is the heart-focus that gives power to spoken words. It the heart-focus that gives power to listened-to words.
There is a person of my acquaintance who is rather small and petite. No one in their right mind would ever refer to her as fat. But, when she was a teenager the boys in her neighborhood began to refer to her as fat.
(Now, as we all know, people go through tremendous changes when they hit their teens. One of the changes some boys seem to go through when they reach 13-14 is their brain turns off. And it doesn’t turn back on until they turn twenty-two. So, to a boy who wants to promote a positive relationship with a girl, it makes perfect sense to either insult her or to knock her over.)
The words were spoken to my acquaintance, and she received them. They were placed in her heart. Now, she has a self-perception problem.
Outside influences – friends, TV, news, important people, books – can have a profound impact, if we receive them into our hearts. That’s why we need to deal wisely with our hearts. We need to protect them. If my acquaintance had heard the word “fat” and responded in her heart “What are those boys talking about? My BMI is 15!! I’ll be really glad when they decide to turn their brains back on.” If she had “heard” the truth and received it, then the lie would have had no power over her.
But the defilement did not come from the boys speaking. Rather it came from the receiving the lie.
There are some outside influences that resonate with our hearts so much, they ought to be avoided at all costs. There are some influences that are almost impossible not to reach. Just as truth would have protected my friend’s heart in the first place, truth can counteract lies received in the heart. Counseling, teaching, meditation, prayer and sharing with one another can plant truth, and strengthen the heart.
There is a common belief that outside influences impact a human being and can corrupt him. Different foods, places and practices are all regarded as things they exert spiritual influences on a person and can bring blessing or corruption on him. The scripture says words are very powerful and can have a huge spiritual effect. But the effects of corruption or blessing do not come from these outside things.
Jesus says a person is defiled\blessed by what comes out of him. Defilement or blessing are products of what fills a person’s heart. It is as we live out what fills our hearts that we blessed or defiled.
Words are powerful. Scripture urges to watch our words. Words are in one perspective just vibrating air. Vibrating air has not power in the spiritual realm. But words also express a focus of the heart. That’s why they are powerful. It is the heart-focus that connects to the spirit. It is the heart-focus that gives power to spoken words. It the heart-focus that gives power to listened-to words.
There is a person of my acquaintance who is rather small and petite. No one in their right mind would ever refer to her as fat. But, when she was a teenager the boys in her neighborhood began to refer to her as fat.
(Now, as we all know, people go through tremendous changes when they hit their teens. One of the changes some boys seem to go through when they reach 13-14 is their brain turns off. And it doesn’t turn back on until they turn twenty-two. So, to a boy who wants to promote a positive relationship with a girl, it makes perfect sense to either insult her or to knock her over.)
The words were spoken to my acquaintance, and she received them. They were placed in her heart. Now, she has a self-perception problem.
Outside influences – friends, TV, news, important people, books – can have a profound impact, if we receive them into our hearts. That’s why we need to deal wisely with our hearts. We need to protect them. If my acquaintance had heard the word “fat” and responded in her heart “What are those boys talking about? My BMI is 15!! I’ll be really glad when they decide to turn their brains back on.” If she had “heard” the truth and received it, then the lie would have had no power over her.
But the defilement did not come from the boys speaking. Rather it came from the receiving the lie.
There are some outside influences that resonate with our hearts so much, they ought to be avoided at all costs. There are some influences that are almost impossible not to reach. Just as truth would have protected my friend’s heart in the first place, truth can counteract lies received in the heart. Counseling, teaching, meditation, prayer and sharing with one another can plant truth, and strengthen the heart.
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