Mouth Problems…
Have you ever gone to lay your sweet head on your pillow at night, and your stomach was in a knot over something you said to someone or something that was said to you?
Me too.
Just recently, I kept hearing the words over and over of someone who carelessly spoke.
I have also, recently, replayed words that I had spoken that were careless.
It’s a horrible feeling. On either side of the coin.
As I read the book of James, I discover why words can make us lose our peace.
Words can break up relationships and cause division in families and friendships.
Words can cause divorce, and dissolutions of businesses.
Words can cause family get togethers to be dreaded and often avoided.
Words destroy.
They destroy even the greatest of people. The most faithful of people.
Words can leave our legacy and reputations in utter ashes if we do not understand their power.
James tell us in chapter 3…
Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.
Wow, ok.
James teaches us that if we could gain control over our tongues we would be perfect and be able to control every other area in our lives.
That is pretty powerful. It also shows us just how important maintaining control over our mouths is to our overall well being.
Next, James tells us…
But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
Well, this surely needs no explanation. Gulp.
Y’all, but don’t we know this to be true? Words destroy. Period.
Words also have the power to do incredible things, as we can see by scripture.
“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. Psalm 33:6
For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command. Psalm 33:9
Wow. Wow. Wow.
What words are we speaking into existence?
Our words have the power to heal or to kill.
The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. Proverbs 18:21
One last thing from James regarding our tongues…
People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.
Let me make this one clear. We go to church, host bible studies, say all the right and holy things….
Yet, if we do not have control over how we speak to others…our husbands, our children, our parents, our siblings, our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers, or those that serve us in public places…
We are useless in His Kingdom.
If we cannot control our tongues all the good and holy deeds in the whole entire world are null and void. They mean nothing.
Friends, we must get this right. We must pray and keep praying for God to help us put a tight reign on our mouths.
How do we speak to our spouses?
How do we speak to our kids?
How do we speak about others when they are not around?
I have heard it said a million times, myself included…
“I can’t help it, I just have to say this…”
“I am not trying to be mean or anything, but…”
“I am just honest and truthful, I can’t help it if my words sting..”
We are fooling ourselves.
We are dishonoring God in a mighty way.
All the good deeds and acts of service we perform mean NOTHING without control of our mouths.
Our tongue is a good indicator of what is going on in our hearts.
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer” Psalm 19:14
Of course this is impossible without God’s help. We must constantly ask Him to help us in this area.
I have a sweet friend, Beth, who told me that when she goes anywhere she asks God to put a guard over her mouth.
Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.
Psalm 141:3
I also think it would help to have accountability in this area. Ask someone you trust to pray about this with you and to hold you accountable when careless words are spoken.
Repent when those words come out, and even go so far as to apologize when careless or hurtful words fly out of our mouths.
Ask God to make you so very sensitive to your words and to convict you immediately when needed.
Conviction is a good thing.
Repentance comes after conviction.
This will take time, friends. Taming and training the tongue is like any other training program. It will take time and it will take perseverance. It will also take lots of practice.
I will end with James final words in chapter 3 to encourage us on this taming the tongue journey…
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.
I want this, don’t you?
tongue in training,
jill
