By Catey Yuen, RTF Staff Writer

Actions speak louder than words.

How many times have you heard that before? I’ve heard it, at a rough estimate, more than a million times in my still-brief life. But I never really thought about it until just recently.

I’m part of a Christian young speakers’ group. I’m used to representing Christ and my group on the platform. I can look really good if I try hard enough and I’m thinking about it.

But get me off the platform and how well do I represent Christ? Am I consistent in my witness, or am I causing people to think badly about God’s people sometimes?

James compares a conflicting Christian with a spring that gives forth both salt and fresh water. In the same way it would be totally unnatural for a spring to spout fresh water, which is wholesome and refreshing, and salt water, which is damaging, it should be unnatural for a Christian to behave differently in different situations.

I’m a performer, and so I focus on representing a group or person while performing more than anything else. But my actions, on and off stage, will speak louder than my words. It’s important to keep our actions and words consistent. Our springs should not be leaking any salt water. But this is easier said than done. How do we keep our attitudes consistent?

Start with the heart. Whether or not you realize it, what you’re thinking and feeling does show and does come across to the people you’re with. If you are having a bad attitude, people can tell. “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Matthew 12:34. If your heart is aligned with God, the words and actions you perform should be aligned with Him too.

Ask why. Do you consistently act different around a certain group of people? Ask yourself why you’re doing it. Is it for attention? Trying to fit in? Once you’ve identified why you act the way you do, do a heart check. Is this how God would want you to act? Are you representing Him well? 2 Timothy 2:15 says that we are God’s workman, and we need not be ashamed of that calling. Why should we deny, either by words or actions, that we serve God?

Pray for help. There is no way you’ll be able to break this habit on your own. I have tried many, many times and I don’t get anywhere (in fact, when I try to get my attitudes consistent on my own, I usually make things worse). The psalmist writes in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” God is willing to wipe our hearts clean so we can start afresh. He’s also willing to renew our spirits when it seems too difficult to do what’s right.