The tongue has the power to bring life, and encouragement, or the power to tear down and destroy to the very heart of a person. When we think back to our childhood, and the things people have said to us that burn in our memories often times they are not the positive, or motivating things that plague our memories. The things that we often remember vividly are the things that people have said to us that have cut us to the very core, the things that have broken our spirit and and haunted us for years. Words have the ability to hurt people so deeply that those words will follow them sometimes even to the grave.
“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” James 3:9-10
“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Proverbs 12:18
The tongue is the most difficult part of the body to train in terms of lining it up with the things of God. So often it gets us into more trouble than we care to admit. Much of the responsibility of taming the tongue lies on us. However, we have a God who will help us in this overwhelming area. Our prayer needs to be:
“Set guard over my mouth, O Lord, keep watch over the door of my lips” Psalm 141:3
Outside of prayer, there are some other ways we can begin to gain power over our tongues. Second to prayer comes spending time hiding God’s word in our hearts (for more on this topic see my blog post entitled "Hiding The Word.") When we work diligently at hiding God’s word in our hearts God helps to keep us from sinning against Him (Psalm 119:11). Scripture also tells us that the mouth speaks whatever the heart is full of (Luke 6:45). So when we store up the good found in God’s word, then good things will flow from our tongues.
The next area to aid us in gaining power over our tongues is examining how we are spending our time. If we are spending our time around others who do not control their tongue, how can we expect to keep our tongue in check.
The next area to aid us in gaining power over our tongues is examining how we are spending our time. If we are spending our time around others who do not control their tongue, how can we expect to keep our tongue in check.
“Do not be misled; Bad company Corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33
We must surround ourselves with those who are working on the same common goals as we are. Otherwise we will find our tongues having the power over us instead of us having the power over our tongue.
“He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.” Proverbs 13:3
Lord, we pray that you set guard over our mouths and keep watch over the door of our lips. It is so hard to gain control of this little body part. Yet, we know that when we come to you, you are going to help us in this area. Help us to be diligent about keeping watch over the things we say. We desire to have encouragement and blessing flow from our lips and not hurt and destruction. Help us to be diligent in your word and in prayer and help us to surround ourselves with others who are going to build us up. Thank you for your help in this difficult area! Lord, please go before us today and every day so that we may gain power over our tongue. For more about this topic please read: "Lord, Help Us Bite Our Tongue!"
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