Pam Padgett ... teacher
Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good
things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil
things.
We can know what is in our hearts as we pay attention to what we speak.
If we speak that which is good in the sight of God, it is because that
is what is in our hearts. If we speak that which is evil, it is because
evil is in our hearts. When we recognize evil coming forth, we have an
opportunity to humble ourselves before God and ask Him to help us clean
the evil from our hearts, and to put in our hearts His truth on the
matter.
We can also know truth about those we hear speak as we pay attention to
what they say. We sometimes want to see a person in a "good light",
especially if we have something in common with that person or are drawn
to them in some way. But it helps us not be deceived if we truthfully
consider what the person says, turning to God with those things that
trouble us, and allowing Him to show us truth about the person.