Oh, that blasted tongue!!

The author of James wasn't exaggerating, was he? He said that in the tongue was impossible to tame, a world of evil, and is able to corrupt the whole person (James 3). I have been hit dead in the face with this truth the last couple of weeks... so many opportunities to choose to use my tongue to edify or to tear down.

Guess how many times I failed. Too many to count.

How often I am quick to speak, slow to listen, and slow to wrath (James 1:19)? The battle for taming the tongue is daily... even HOURLY... and if often feels like I'm losing.

Need more biblical references to reinforce the power of words? A few that the Lord has been using in me are reason enough to cringe and search one's hearts and examine one's life. Jesus taught that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matt 12:34). Proverbs is littered of wise truths about how words can build up and tear down, how the wise uses words carefully while the fool speaks without thinking (Prov 12:6; 12:13-14; 12:17-23; 13:2-3; 14:3; 14:25; . At the 24 hours of prayer I was convicted by a psalm that hit on the this same topic (Ps 34:13).

Father - let my words be honoring to You... please continue to renew my mind and heart so that my words will flow from a heart that sincerely loves You and others. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Lord (Ps 19:14).