The Bible talks a lot about what we should say and not say with our tongue. Though it may seem like an innocuous part of our bodies, the Bible makes it very clear how important it is. And much of it revolves around the idea of guarding our tongues, being cautious about words and refraining from speaking before thinking. What does the Bible say about controlling our tongue?
In James 3:8-10, it says, “But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” And in Ephesians 4:29, it says, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”
Clearly, we are to be careful about how we use our tongues. We are not to criticize, gossip, and spread rumors, and we must be sure to build up those around us. The words we use should bring life and hope, not sorrow and pain. We should use our tongues to speak up for the oppressed and speak out against sin.
Every time we use our tongue, we have an opportunity to be wise and to exercise self-control. Our tongues shouldn’t be used to do harm, but should be employed to do good. We must use our tongues to be advocates for justice, mercy, and truth.
In Proverbs 15:2, the Bible says, “The tongue of the wise radiates wisdom, but the loose lips spew folly” Which means, the words of a wise person bring healing and hope, while idle words bring destruction. Our words have power, and the more aware we are of that power, the more we can use our tongues for good.
Controlling our tongue is a difficult challenge, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can do it. We can choose our words carefully and speak them out of love. We can leave off the harshness, criticize less, and instead pray more. We can bring healing with our words, not pain. And we can use our tongue to edify and bring glory to God.
Choosing the Right Language
The Bible reminds us that our words should bring peace and comfort. In Colossians 4:5-6, it says, “Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” We should be thoughtful about what we say, mindful of who we are talking to and consider how our words will be received. Our language should be one that sows life and brings glory to God.
In Proverbs 31:26, it is written, “She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” A wise woman will be careful with her words. She will use language that speaks life, hope, and truth, and will be careful to avoid slander and harmful words. Have our words been filled with slander, criticism, or gossip? Are we speaking words of kindness and respect? Are we encouraging or tearing down? The Bible is clear on how we should conduct ourselves in our speech.
Sometimes, it is easy to become frustrated, and our tongue gets away from us. But we can still control our tongue and speak with grace. We should practice self-control and be mindful of the power of our words. When we slow down and think about the consequences of our words, it can help us to stay focused on using language that brings glory to God. We should resist the urge to do harm and intentionality choose words that bring healing and restoration.
The Power of the Tongue
The tongue can bring great blessing and cause great harm. Therefore, we must be careful about what we say and take steps to guard our tongue. In Proverbs 4:24, it says, “Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.” And in Proverbs 14:3, it says, “A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.” We must remember that our words can be weapons, but they can also be healing balms. We must do our best to use our tongues to speak life and truth.
What is the power of our tongue? It is only limited by our imaginations. We can use our tongues to encourage, build up, and bring glory to God. We can use our tongue to bring hope and healing to those who are broken and hurting. We should always strive to speak words of life and bring positivity into the lives of those around us.
Our speech should reflect God’s goodness and kindness. We should be careful to use language that speaks to the heart, not words that tear down. We should use our words to sow peace and create understanding. It may seem like a small thing, but the power of our words can have a great impact.
Being Careful With Our Words
As the Bible reminds us, our words have power. We should use them to bring life and hope, and avoid careless and harsh words. We should take care to bring a sense of peace and justice. We should seek to speak with kindness and respect and always remember that our words can bring great blessing or great harm.
How can we guard our tongue? We can use God’s Word to shape our speech and seek to live up to the standards of righteousness He has set. We can take time to consider our words before we speak, and measure their impact. We can resist the temptation to be careless, and choose our words wisely. And, when our tongue gets away from us, we can ask for forgiveness.
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10:5, “Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Like a muscle, our tongue has to be trained to obey Christ. We don’t have to be perfect, we only need to abide in His grace and seek to please Him. We can use our tongues for good.
Making the Most of Our Tongue
The Bible tells us to carry our tongues like a sword, as our defense against wrong. We can use our tongue to make a difference in the world. We can use our words to challenge injustice, speak for the oppressed, bring healing to the hurting, and comfort to the grieving. We can use our tongues to share stunning truths, and remind others of the power of God’s love.
Are we using our tongues to bring glory to God? Are we being mindful of our language and words? Are we forsaking the temptation to gossip, slander, and criticize? Let’s strive to use our tongues to do good. Let’s speak words of life. Let’s use our speech to speak up for justice and stand against sin. Let’s use our tongue to bring glory to God, not harm to others.
Simonne’s Journey of Self Control
Simonne’s story is one of transformation and self-control. She grew up in an oppressive environment where her words were often met with criticism and ridicule. She learned quickly that it was safer to keep her tongue and not speak her truth.
Months went by with Simonne barely speaking a word and obedience was her defense. But one day, someone said something that made Simonne feel heard and understood. She began to slowly open up and share what she was thinking and feeling. She could see how valuable it was to speak her truth, have her voice be heard, and be able to express herself authentically.
Simonne gradually began to speak more and more, but she became aware of the power of her words. She wanted to be respectful and intentional with her language, so she started more deliberately watching her tongue. By making a conscious effort to think before she spoke, she was able bring a sense of healing and understanding to her conversations.
Simonne learned that controlling her tongue was a process and it would take time, but with patience and practice, she found that it was possible. She practiced speaking words of kindness, respect, and love, and resisted the temptation to gossip or criticize. Eventually, her words began to carry truth and hope.
Simonne understood that not only did our words have power, but more importantly, so did our silence. Containing our tongues when the situation called for it was just as important. Making sure that our words were meaningful and not empty chatter was also of utmost importance. Simonne knew that the power of her tongue was only limited by her imagination and she strives to live up to the standards that she set for herself.
A husband of one wife, father of two beautiful girls, laborer of Lord, Jesus Christ, and a servant to God’s His saints. I hope to encourage you by God’s grace. Thank you for stopping by.
