It wouldn’t surprise me if Donald Trump’s first two weeks as president coincided with a global rise in stomach ulcers. News outlets and social media are a minefield of opinions and denouncements. Love trumps hate, they say. But I’m not sure love trumps hate of Trump.

I’m not here to defend Trump. He’s a big boy and not unfamiliar with opposition. But the furor surrounding him has me reflecting on verses about speech in the Bible.

Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness (James 1:19-20).

Every sea creature, reptile, bird, or animal is tamed and has been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison (James 3:7-8).

The soothing tongue is a tree of life but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit (Prov. 15:4).

One verse has been on my mind more than any other:

From the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matt. 12:34).

From the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks, the fingers type, communication flows. When you and I consider our words, social media posts, or expressions of any kind, what do they reveal about the fullness of our hearts? Do we like what we find there?

Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1, 14). He is God’s image, the exact representation of His being (Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3). As the Word, Jesus is the fullness of God’s heart communicated to us. That heart is patient and kind, not arrogant or rude; it doesn’t insist on its own way; it isn’t irritable or resentful (1 Cor. 13:4-5). That heart loves its neighbor–and political opponents–as itself. That heart moved Jesus to give up His life for friend and foe alike (1 John 2:1-2).

I pray the Holy Spirit conforms my heart to God’s. I want Christ to be the fullness of my heart. I want my mouth to speak Christ.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14).