Guide Your Mind-Guard Your Heart-Grace Your TongueShembull

Matthew 12:36 is verse I can clearly say causes my heart rate to accelerate, my blood pressure to increase, and my mouth to immediately go dry. This singular verse, found in the otherwise wonderful book of Matthew, shakes me to the very core every time that I read it. 

For every careless word that I have ever spoken, or will ever speak, someday I will have to tell Jesus exactly why those particular words came out of my guilty mouth. If you thought it was hard to guard your heart, or soul, just wait until you try to grace your tongue! If you have not already been successful at guarding your heart, your tongue will prattle on well beyond any hope you might have of grasping it or taming it. It is your spirit that needs to take control and have the final say, not only about what is in your heart, but also about what you are allowed to speak. 

Your spirit, which is filled with faith, power, and the Word of God, should be given the authority to determine what words come out of your human mouthpiece. If you desire to speak with the wisdom and knowledge of God, then you must listen to Him in His Word. You must daily ask for the mind of Christ to trump your personal thought processes.

If we note carefully how the Holy Spirit describes the tongue in Proverbs 31:25-26, we can learn what is per­haps one of the loveliest and most powerful lessons of all. The reason this woman is able to smile at the future is that “she open her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” When you begin to open your mouth in wisdom because you think like God thinks, you will be able to smile at the future, as well. The legacy I desire to leave is not one of self-promotion, nor is it one of amassing a fortune or acquiring degrees or jewels. The legacy I long to leave is a legacy of wisdom and kindness. How about you?

Personal Application: Which careless words you have spoken to other people do you especially regret saying?