Speak To My Heart, JesusSample

Tame the Tongue

Isn’t it easy to spout off words? It can be someone involving a disagreement or some grievance. Words well up in our mouths and pound on the back of our teeth ready to spew out like hot lava from our tongues. It’s difficult to contain those words, but God wants us to speak words that are filled with patience and love. Words that bless His name, glorify Him, and edify others.

In James 3, the servant of God reminds the 12 tribes - and us - of the power of the tongue. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue (James 3:3-12).

So, has God given us a hopeless task? No. He has given us power through Jesus Christ to strengthen us. He's provided the Holy Spirit to guide us and convict us when we spew verbal assaults or denigrate others.

God has even given us His Word to hide in our hearts so that we might not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11).

As we seek to tame our tongues, let us also have God cultivate our hearts by His Word.

If we desire Jesus to speak to our hearts, we need to be ready when He speaks. May we return praise back to God with the fruit of our lips. May our souls overflow with the abundance of wisdom, joy, and love (Luke 6:43-45).