“Lumapit kayo sa akin, kayong lahat na nahihirapan at nabibigatang lubha sa inyong pasanin, at kayo’y bibigyan ko ng kapahingahan. Pasanin ninyo ang aking pamatok at sundin ninyo ang aking mga itinuturo sapagkat ako’y maamo at mapagkumbabang loob. Matatagpuan ninyo sa akin ang kapahingahan sapagkat madaling dalhin ang aking pamatok at magaan ang pasaning ibinibigay ko sa inyo.”

Mateo 11:28–30

Where do you get your drinking water? If you live in the city, with no access to natural sources of clean water, you probably buy your own drinking water. The water usually comes in huge plastic containers, sealed and sanitized. You will do everything to keep it clean. You value your water; laging may takip para hindi madumihan. If you see that it has been contaminated with dirt, mold, or bacteria, you won’t drink it anymore. Mahirap nang magkasakit.

In the same way, are we also guarding our hearts, imagining it as a spring from where life-giving water comes from? The wise man who wrote Proverbs said, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23, AMP). Jesus explains in Mark 7:21–23 (NLT), “For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

Are we taking care that we are not letting malice, bitterness, hatred, and other negative emotions grow in our hearts? Our hearts dictate our thoughts, our words, and our actions. If you find yourself getting easily irritated or angered, prone to do or say hurtful things, take notice. Baka may problema na ang puso mo. Just like how our body needs clean water to stay physically healthy, our spirit needs a clean heart to keep it from being spiritually dirty.