Power of the Tongue
The Power of the Tongue
Psalm 39:1
I said, “I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue.”
This is very good advice and it comes from the Psalmist David.
James 1:19 says that we need to be “slow to speak.” I believe he means that much of what we are tempted to say has no constructive purpose. A great deal of it is gossip and some mixture of truth, half truth, and outright untruth, which hurts so many people and helps no one. Even if it is the truth we are not under obligation to tell the whole world. There have been many saints that have cried themselves to sleep at night by the devious plots of those who could not keep their tongue under control.
The tongue is a messenger that delivers the dictates of the heart. So, when the word tongue is used think heart. We reveal our heart by our daily conversation. We have to submit our heart to God in order to control the tongue. We cannot do it by our selves.
The tongue is the muscle in your body that receives more exercise and less control than any other. Medically, they say it’s only a two-ounce slab of muscle, mucus membranes and nerves that enables us to chew, taste, swallow food, and articulate words. It can be a two-ounce beast on some occasions.
James says in chapter three of his book that the tongue is small and powerful. He likens the tongue to a bridal in the horse’s mouth, a rudder that guides a ship. And the most extreme analogy is fire. A tiny spark, smaller than a fingernail, holds the power to destroy thousands of acres of forest.
One has stated that by examining the tongue, physicians find out the diseases of the body; and philosophers, the diseases of the mind and heart. What has your tongue revealed this week about you?
Again, the Psalmist David said, “let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.” That needs to be our daily prayer. A spirited controlled tongue is a God controlled tongue.
As Christians we should have these verses in every room of our home.
Philippians 4:8 “Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good rupute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.”
Romans 12:12 “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Words can be life and death to the body, so daily this week take a quiet time break and meditate on God’s Word.
Proverbs has a lot of great verses on the controlled tongue. I hope you will look them up and meditate on them as well.
Proverbs 10:11---"The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked."
Proverbs 10:19---"In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise."
Proverbs 12:18---"There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health."
Proverbs 10:19---"In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise."
Proverbs 12:18---"There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health."
Proverbs 13:2-3---"A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.
He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction."
Proverbs 15:23---"A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!"
Proverbs 16:24---"Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones."
Proverbs 18:21---"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit."
YOUR CHANCES OF BLOWING IT ARE DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU SPEND WITH YOUR MOUTH OPEN.
BE CAREFUL YOU COULD GET CAUGHT IN YOUR OWN MOUTH TRAP!
We’re building up or tearing down
In everything we do;
Are you on the construction gang
Or, on the wrecking crew