The Power of the Tongue

I have to confess that I have a tongue problem. Or should I say a heart problem? Jesus said it this way in Matthew 12:34: "For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart." Ouch! Jesus also said that my words reveal my heart. That means I don't have any excuses - no PMS, too much pressure, a crabby husband or a misbehaved child.

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There is one who speaks rashly like the thrust of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18

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As a young mother I learned this lesson the hard way. I cannot count the times that out of frustration I would speak rashly to my daughter or my husband. One day the Lord showed me very clearly what I was doing and I was horrified. After I repented to God and then my family, I began to work on changing. I memorized scripture and trained myself to speak words that would heal instead of wound. When I slipped up I would immediately ask for forgiveness from my family and over time I began to see real, lasting change.

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Proverbs 18:21 says Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. I guess the question we need to ask is what kind of fruit do we want to eat? Kind and gentle words produce the fruit of a peaceful home and relationships full of joy and trust. Harsh, critical words produced angry children and harassed, resentful husbands. I think all of us would say that we want the peaceful, joyful fruit. That, however, is not always an easy thing. Face it, sometimes we love ourselves more than others. The momentary pleasure that comes from "dumping" and "being honest" many times trumps the hard work of taming our tongues.

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"No man can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison." James 3:8

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Gee, that doesn't sound very hopeful. But, with God all things are possible! If we admit that we have a problem in this or any other area, there is hope. We need to start by taking seriously the power of our words. We need to be willing to die to our momentary feelings and remember that we are not required to give in to the temptation before us. We have a choice!

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What will you choose this week when opportunities arise that lend themselves to angry outbursts or sharp, critical words? I encourage you to choose life with the power of your tongue.

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Prayer:

Father, I admit I have a heart problem which leads to a tongue problem. I want my words to bring life and healing to those I come in contact with. Change me, Lord, as only You can do. Help me to be humble enough to continue to come to You for help when I mess up. Amen

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Challenge:

Ask God to open your ears to hear what you are saying and then make a plan to change. Remember it is a heart change you are after. Jesus told us that what is in our hearts will come out of our mouths. If anger and criticism are coming from your mouth, then push that out by pouring in scripture. When you slip up, ask forgiveness of those you are talking to and start over. You will not lose respect from them. Just the opposite is true. They will respect you more because they will see you are determined to be like Jesus.

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Sherry 2010