Words That Come
from the Heart
Words that do not become flesh in us remain “just words.” They have no power to affect our lives. If someone says, “love you,” without meaning it, such words do more harm than good. But if these same words are spoken from the heart, they can create new life.
It is important that we keep in touch with the source of our words. Our great temptation is to become “pleasers,” people who say the right words to please others but whose words have no roots in their interior lives. We have to keep making sure our words are rooted in our hearts. The best way to do that is in prayerful silence.
—Henri J. M. Nouwen
Bread for the Journey
Empty words should have no place in our lives. Yet they often do. “I’ll pray for you.” These words should never be tossed about without heartfelt commitment to the course promised. How often we say these words as a conditioned response, rote and ritual, and neglect to follow through. To my shame, I’ve done it myself. One remedy for me has been to act on the words immediately. Instead of “I’ll pray for you,” it becomes “Can I pray for you now?” Another remedy is to have a prayer list. I’ve used a prayer list to keep urgent matters of prayer before me, to serve as a reminder not only to pray, but also to follow up; to check in, to ensure my prayer requests are current. Acting rather than offering up hollow words is what Jesus meant in Matt. 5:7 when he said not to bother with offering an oath (making a promise) but rather “let your yes be yes and your no be no” and offer nothing more. Say what you mean. Do what you say. Let us grow on this thought today, in heart and in practice. —DH
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics