There Goes That Mouth Again

But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:8

Gossip, telling secrets, hurting someone with verbal abuse, misunderstandings, the tongue and the mouth are right up there at the top for causing problems particularly when the person speaking does not think before saying something or emailing something. How many of you have been guilty of misspoken words that have hurt someone? I have I am ashamed to say. Sometimes it is hard to recover from that and takes time to earn trust again. 

As this verse in James Chapter 3 says the tongue can not be tamed. That does not excuse you from not having self control with your mouth. Sometimes misspoken words are a total misunderstanding and can embarrass or hurt someone. Maybe that was not your intent but it can happen. If you have a problem with talking too much before you think, step back and maybe do a study on the mouth and your words. Words have power. They do in fact set a forest ablaze as it also says in this same chapter of James. 

If you have been hurt be ready to forgive and forget. If you have hurt someone else learn from it and ask God to help you control your impulses and to think before you speak. The friends and family you save may be your own. 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I want control over my mouth. The mouth can do good or do bad. It is my choice and help me use the brain you gave me to think before I speak. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

The Forest Fire

Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3:5-6< On a recent vacation to Yellowstone National Park it was pointed out that forest fires helped with the regrowth of the forest and were essential in the big scheme of things. Forest fires and grass fires occur nearly every summer but similar to the ruination which happened after Mt St Helens 1980 eruption,years later the ground is beautiful and lush. The forest fire rages and kills but in the aftermath beautiful growth occurs. Our tongue is similar to a huge forest fire but unlike the flames leaving destruction in their wake and later blooming again,the 'fire' that spews forth from our mouths often destroys and hurts those we speak to. It may take years to be able to repair a relationship that you have destroyed with thoughtless words. This is one 'fire' that needs to be tamed and kept under control before it rages forth and hurts someone we are close to. Do you have problems controlling your tongue? Many people do so if you do admit it to God and ask for His help. Do not be afraid to ask forgiveness to those you have hurt with your words. If you have been hurt by another and even if they never asked for forgiveness do not harbor bitterness and choose to forgive. It is what God would want of His children. PRAYER: Forgive me Lord for the times I have become offended when someone hurt me. Help me learn to forgive and forget. Also help me Lord not start 'forest fires' with my words and stop and think before I speak if there is any doubt to what I am saying being hurtful. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Watch Your Words

 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

There is a saying in the Navy, "Loose lips sink ships" and "loose lips end relationships" too if you do not think before you speak, text, or email. For those of us who like to talk, yeah that would be yours truly, we have to be careful to not let emotions rule what we say. It is best to really think before you speak. It is so easy to start arguments if you do not. Ask yourself if what you are about to say or write will be necessary or have value. If not then skip it.

The word of God is filled with a host of scriptures on talking and our mouth. Do a word study in your Bible and you will see what I mean. If only that tongue of ours could be tamed things would be so much better. (See James chapter 3). Have you hurt someone with your words because you did not think first or let your emotions rule you? If this is an area you have trouble with take some time out and just look up verses and end with prayer asking God to take control of your speech and give you self control.

Words bring joy, peace, and love or if misused can create a rift and wound someone. Use yours today to bring joy to someone.

 PRAYER: Forgive me for the many times I did not control my tongue and rattled off stuff and hurt someone. Help me never be seen as a gossip or someone who meddles and creates trouble. Let my words be few unless they are kind. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Hot Mike

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6

'Hot Mike' is not the name of a movie theater candy nor am I referring to a person named Mike being 'handsome'. The term for purposes of this writing is meaning when a famous person, such as a Congressman or President, does not realize a microphone is turned on and says things they would rather not the public know they said that embarrass them a great deal.We 'not famous' people may not have 'hot mikes' to look out for but we need to still be very careful what we speak and when we speak it. This could pertain to accidental texts and emails too that go to the wrong recipient. 

If we applied the Bible verse in today's reading to every day life it would be easier to do the right thing. First what we think usually comes out of our mouths so if you are aware you have wrong feelings towards someone ask God first to heal that area of your life. We are not to go around hating people and being jealous of them. Nor are we to go around plotting evil. We are to overcome evil with good as it says in Romans 12:21.

In order to avoid the 'hot mikes' in your life try to think good thoughts and take captive wrong thoughts(See 2 Corinthians 10:5) so what comes out of the  mouth is always pleasing to God.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus put a watch of sorts over my heart and my mouth so I only utter things that will bring glory to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.  

Mouth and Emotions

Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. Proverbs 13:3

Much is to be said about thinking before you speak or thinking before you text or type and email for that matter. Your words bear much weight and they can be taken the wrong way if not thought out. This was me recently making an innocent spur of the moment comment to a someone online and it was perceived the wrong way and caused a little minor upset. Ouch. I never mean that to happen but sometimes it does. Then we have to go digging ourselves out of the hole we just created for ourselves by our careless words. 

At times it is best to not say or write anything especially if your emotions are running wild. If a particular issue is on your mind and you have not thought it out clearly then you may be tempted to let your mouth pop open in person or through your keyboard and type or say something you later regret. The thing is words are said and it is too late. This is why it is oh so crucial to think before your speak.

I have a sign on my refrigerator that says "Talk Less, Listen More" and this is good advice for anyone. Let me add one more thing. Pray always. 

PRAYER: Lord the mouth is so hard to control at times. Help me when I am upset or confused to not just speak off the top of my head but to think things through first. I know saying the wrong thing can be disastrous and I do not want it to be. Teach me to be still. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Mouth Attack

But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil full of deadly poison. James 3:8

How many times has your mouth gotten you into trouble? You maybe gossip, swear, lie, criticize, complain,  say unkind words, or just don't think things through before opening it. I think if all of us are honest we can answer that at some time or other the mouth has gotten us into big trouble. I am not ashamed to say mine has. I constantly am on my guard trying to think before I speak and asking myself is what I am going to say even necessary. This 'talking' can come in form of texting or emails too. Once we say it or type it, it is too late.

We can be misunderstood or misinterpreted too and end up digging ourselves from a hole and apologizing all over ourselves. Why not work towards the goal of being careful what we say. Set a high standard for yourself. "If you can not say something nice" as some moms used to say "then say nothing at all."

Can you tame your tongue? Why not pray and ask God to make you and your mouth an instrument of love. 

PRAYER: Lord I love you and want to be a good representative of you. I know what I say can be misunderstood so please guide me as I speak. In Jesus' name.Amen.