ZIPPY THE LIPPY

" I can' t believe I said that!" How many of us have a problem controlling what seemingly 'pops' out of our mouth? The mouth can really be a source of real trouble if not controlled. The fruit of the spirit of 'self control' in Galatians 5:23 really needs to come into play with the out of control mouth. Scripture has many verses about the mouth and control of the tongue. I have written about it many times. "No man can tame the tongue" it says in James Chapter 3. Read this chapter when you get a moment.

 There are numerous references to 'what we say' in the Bible. It is so easy to talk and not think. Engaging the brain would be the first order of business. Words can be good and uplifting or can hurt someone terribly. 'Be careful little mouth what you say' is the popular Sunday School song that we need to think about before we just let something random pop out of our mouth. Colossians 4:6 says to "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Learn to speak kindly just as if Jesus were in the room because news flash, He is !!

Gossip is a huge problem for many and sometimes disguised as a 'prayer request or concern'. Oh really? Little children who have not yet learned to be disciplined, like we adults are 'supposed' to be, may have trouble with tattling on each other. Hopefully as we mature into adulthood we can let this one go but sometimes not. Some people like to get others in trouble by spilling the beans on them.

Lying is another horrible thing that mouth can do but we as believers should know better and if you have a problem with this ask for God to help you. Scripture says in Proverbs 6:16-17 that "God hates a lying tongue". Perhaps we need to let some folks in Washington DC in on this one who took an oath to follow the Constitution and placed their hand on a Bible. Oaths mean very little to some people. Even marriages where an oath is taken before God means little when a couple starts having problems. When you break your oath  you are lying because you made a promise "for better or for worse, in sickness and health til death we do part." That is a promise and breaking a promise is lying.

Meddling or being nosey is another 'mouth' problem we need to control. Also knowing when to speak and when to be silent is a true discipline. Our mouths can really bring chaos if not careful and cause great heartache. Much more can be written on talking when you should learn to be silent. Stay tuned!

Matthew 12:36 says "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken". Have you been loose with your lips lately? In the US Navy there is a saying "Loose Lips Sink Ships" meaning just what it says. If you say the wrong thing to a person who tells someone it could get back to the enemy and voila, an attack occurs. In the military there is something where not even all military people on active duty need to know everything. It is a 'need to know' theory of sorts. I remember once when on active duty asking my husband, who was also on active duty, about someplace his  unit was being deployed to. He said he could not tell me as I did not have a 'need to know'. Many civilians could benefit from that same mentality and we would not be prying into everyone's business all the time. One good example is how parents need to back off from controlling their adult children and trying to know everything especially when they are married. Your job is over raising your children and their lives begin without you and they will let you know when you need to be included. Not following this can hurt the relationships of children and their parents. One more example of meddling would be spending too much time on Facebook delving into the lives of your 'friends' to find out what is 'going on'. Does it matter really? Think about that one.

So there you have it. Be careful to think before you say something. Try to be calm and not angry and do not jump to conclusions and say things  you may regret later. Sometimes the less said the better. God can help you if you are weak in the 'running off at the mouth' area. Just call on Him. Proverbs 29:11 says "A fool utters all his mind: but a wise man keeps it in till afterwards."

PRAYER: Lord I sometimes blurt things out or send an email that I am sorry about later. Forgive me if I have ever hurt anyone or caused trouble because of this. Help me to concentrate on being Christlike in my speech and to think before I start to talk. Help me learn to be kind and not harsh. Help me also to learn to respond with grace to those who may be harsh with me. In Jesus Name. Amen.