STOP TALKING SO MUCH

Does anyone out there have trouble keeping their mouth closed? Do you open it and say things that are inappropriate or not necessary and then just wish you could take it all back? It is an awful feeling to have said something and then say to yourself "maybe I should not have shared that with them". You may 'innocently' share something with a friend about someone else or some issue then realize maybe in fact you should have not said anything. For sure, the mouth gets most people into lots of trouble. James chapter 3 says "no man can tame the tongue". How many times do we wish we could just have a roll of duct tape and the problem would be solved? Better yet, what we need is self control. Those two words have popped up in several devotions lately. The ability with God's help to control yourself. To not be impulsive. To think before you speak. To be careful what you are saying is not 'gossip'.

Proverbs 10:19 says "Don't talk too much. You keep putting your foot in your mouth. Be sensible and turn off the flow!" Ouch now that hits home I am sure with lots of people. It is so easy to just ramble on and talk and then regret it. You may innocently repeat something you had no business sharing. Oh how we wish we could stop talking so much. Really truly try to engage your brain before your mouth.  Truly you have to gain control over the mouth. It has so much power to do good or to do harm.

Once we open our mouth that is that. The words are out there never to be taken back. We can build people up with our words or we can cause great pain and misunderstanding. We can bring joy or we can bring sorrow. We can uplift or tear down. Proverbs 10:14 says "A wise man holds his tongue. Only a fool blurts out everything he knows. That only leads to sorrow and trouble." Lets say you are privy to information only you should know and keep to yourself but you just can not stand it any longer. You blurt this info out to a 'trusted friend'. Even if the trusted friend keeps it to themselves you have done wrong by sharing something you had no business sharing. If this leaks out it can ruin a relationship or hurt someone. But oh how hard it is to just keep quiet. You then start feeling guilty for divulging a confidence someone entrusted to you. This can 'innocently' happen even in prayer groups where a person can share a prayer then that person shares it with others when they really should not have. Even sometimes the initial prayer should not have been said to a group if someone asked you not to. You get the idea. Be trustworthy. Keep your mouth closed and keep a confidence.

Our mouths often times speculate about things 'out loud' and can start rumors because of thinking out loud. Best to keep thoughts to yourself. If you are in a group and this is happening take it upon yourself to drop it right there and no longer bring up to anyone what was shared. Once again self control comes in to play. What good do you gain by repeating something anyway? Proverbs 17:9 says "Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends." This could do with forgetting an action someone did to hurt you but could include speaking something that hurt someone as well.

Proverbs 18:6-7 says "A fool gets into constant fights. His mouth is his undoing. His words endanger him." Do not be afraid of silence. Sometimes thinking you always have to have speaking going on is what can lead to trouble. Just be quiet a while and relax. Proverbs 20:19 says "Do not tell your secrets to a gossip unless you want them broadcast to the world." Better to just really pray and ask God to help you know when to share something and when to remain silent.

Ecclesiastes 3:7 says "a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak." We do not have to say everything we know to everyone we know. Use discernment and wisdom. Above all ask God to guide you and help you and if you need to talk to someone and are not sure you should, then why not just talk to God?

PRAYER: Thank you father for the gift of speaking and being able to talk. Help me to not talk too much and to now betray a confidence or share things I should not. Forgive me if I have done this. Guide my speak so it brings only glory to you and builds up the hearer. I want to only bring glory by the words of my mouth. Help me Lord. In Jesus Name. Amen.