Chapter 7: Choices From The Heart

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So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding?

Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false

witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” Matthew 15:16-20 NKJV

At any given moment [choice], we are either operating on God’s turf or on Satan’s turf. When we make a godly choice, we aim towards Heaven. When we engage in sin, we aim towards Hell. Apostle James reminds us in James 3:2 that we are all prone to stumble [sin]. Anyone who has ever

taught others is aware of the propensity of the tongue to go wildly astray seemingly on its own accord. Only your heart can keep the tongue in check because that is where evil thoughts originate. The truth squad I talked about in the last chapter did not understand that fact in either Jesus’ or in James’

teachings. You will not be perfect; but you can certainly make righteous choices from your heart, especially if your heart walks with God Almighty.

“For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not

stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.” James 3:2 NKJV

“We all make many mistakes, but those who control their

tongues can also control themselves in every other way.” James 3:2 NLT

Imagine for a moment that you are now in the process of making a

choice. It doesn’t matter what the choice is or whether it is big or small. Take a look back at the two preceding graphics. Your choice, whatever it is, will lead you in one of two separate and opposite directions. You will either move closer to God [going up] with a righteous choice or you will move

closer to Satan [going down] with a choice to sin.