Talk the talk…

"I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle." (Psalm 39:1)

Learning to speak in two or three languages is not nearly as hard as learning to keep your mouth shut in one.  Letting things go in one ear and out the other is bad enough, but what's worse is when things go in one ear, get all mixed up, and come out of the mouth!

Our lives are plagued by the small part of the body which caused the fall of man - The Tongue.

So the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire. James 3:5

It’s been estimated that the average person speaks 18,000 words per day. That’s enough to write a 54-page book!

A husband looking through the paper came upon a study that said women use more words than men. Excited to prove to his wife that he had been right all along when he accused her of talking too much, he showed her the study results. It read "Men use about 15,000 words per day, but women use 30,000". The wife thought for a while, then finally she said to her husband "It's because we have to repeat everything we say." The husband said "What?"

Supervising our words is essential, and we desperately need the help of God to know: when to speak, what to speak, how to speak and to whom we are to speak. James says the best display of our spirituality may well be our speech.  We prove a changed heart by our ability to bridle our tongues.

Our words always speak louder than our religious rituals. Anyone can dress nicely and come to church, put a fish icon on their rear bumper or listen to Christian music. But without a doubt, one of the greatest indicators of our faith, spiritual maturity and wisdom is the ability to have firm control of our tongues.

More harm has come to religion, family, government, and society by the tongue than that of the bottle, pill or gun. It is the sin of all ages of people. But just as the tongue has power to destroy, it also has power to heal, to build-up, edify and encourage.  When used properly, the tongue can mend fences, heal broken hearts and encourage those in need of encouragement.  There are those who:

·      Talk too much, say the wrong thing and speak at the wrong time.

·      Say the right thing and speak at just the right time

·      Gossip, condemn, ridicule, complain, murmur, judge, argue, and curse God and man.

·      Commend, encourage, support, discuss, help and praise God and man.

The Book of Proverbs is filled with powerful advice for the handling of the tongue. 

·      Proverbs 16:27-28  A worthless man digs up evil, while his words are as a scorching fire.  A perverse man spreads strife, and a slanderer separates intimate friends.

·      Proverbs 15:23  A man has joy in an apt answer, and how delightful is a timely word!

·      Proverbs 25:11  Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances.

This week we will be looking at the power of the tongue.  The Bible has much to say about controlling this small yet powerful part of our body.

Scripture to Claim:

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 18:21