How many times do we say things we do not mean? How often do we speak empty words – words with no purpose or words with hidden motives? At a young age we were taught to think before we speak. This lesson still holds true. If we would pause before we speak and make a heart connection, we would speak deliberately with purpose. What comes out of our mouth reveals what is in our heart. David said, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:19).

Alignment is defined as the proper positioning or state of adjustment of parts in relation to each other. Scripture demonstrates that our heart and mouth are directly related, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man” (Matthew 15:18). Therefore, it is necessary that we adjust our words and our heart so that they are properly aligned. In order for the heart and mouth to be correctly positioned, the heart has to be filled with good things. Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” When the heart is filled with good things, the mouth speaks good things.

Another important adjustment is to bring to an end to saying one thing when in our heart we are meaning something entirely different. We should always remember that God knows the very “intent” of our heart, so regardless of what we say or who we say it to; and regardless if we justify our reason for saying it; God knows what was in our heart when we spoke it – “for the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

For many of us, aligning our heart and mouth with what we believe is a key adjustment. We all know that feelings are ever changing. We wake up happy and by noon someone or something has knocked the wind out of our sail. However, if what we believe is based on the Word of God which is forever “settled in Heaven”(Psalm 119:89), then what we believe does not change. When what we believe is grounded in the Word of God, then we are not moved by what we feel; we are not moved by what we see; and we are not moved by what “they” say – whoever they are. When the doctor gives us his report, we align our heart and mouth with the Word of God and believe and say, “with His stripes, we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). When our bank account is not looking so “prosperous,” we align our heart and mouth with the Word and believe and say, “but my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). When it seems as though our backs are against the wall and we have no one to turn to and nowhere to turn, we align our heart and mouth with the Word of God and say, “if God be for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31); we say and believe, “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

When our heart and mouth are aligned, we speak with power. Proverbs 18:21, “life and death are in the ‘power’ of the tongue.” The power comes when we speak what we believe, and what we believe is found in our heart – “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).