Rembrandt’s “Le tête du Christ” (Wikimedia Commons)

Approx. read time: 1:45 min.

As a writer I understand the literary function of Jesus’ often spoken words: “Amen, I say to you,” or “Truly, I say to you,” or the quaint “Verily, verily, I say to you.”

I’ll be honest with you: Never in my life have I used this word verily in a sentence. I bet you haven’t, either.

Refreshingly, in the First Nations Version (FNV) Indigenous translation of the New Testament, I hear Jesus speaking in a far more intimate, humble, irresistibly inviting way: “I speak from my heart …” he says.

I speak from my heart …

This phrase cuts clean through any spin I might want to put on what I think the Teacher is saying.

“I speak from my heart,” he says, his liquid brown eyes pouring Love directly into my soul, “unless you become like a little child, you will not find the pathway onto the good road …” (see Matthew 18:3, FNV).

I speak from my heart. This is Jesus, Truth Teller, whom I instinctively know I can trust. Whom I willingly choose to trust.

In my book Dare to Believe, Rise Up to Act, I explore what it means, in real life, to courageously step from “believing in Jesus to actually stating: I believe him!” (Sample and download my audio track “I Believe Jesus” here.)

I believe this One who speaks from the heart, directly to my heart, my interior place of core convictions, of truth telling, and meaning making.

I invite you to speak this phrase now, unrushed, gently, in a whisper: I speak from my heart. 

Speak it again, unrushed, gently, and notice what changes, or begins to open, within you.

I give you this phrase, not just for today, but forever. Let this phrase change you! It continues to change me.

I speak from my heart.

Share this blogpost with friends. And let me know your thoughts.

Check out my YouTube channel, which has plenty of speak-from-the-heart teaching, inspiration, and more.

Be well. Live in peace. Love one another.