Keeping a tight rein on our tongue

Hello friends ~ Just wanted to share with you what God has been teaching me over the past few months. I have found myself greatly challenged and convicted over my words and thoughts. Can anybody relate? As I have studied God’s word about this particular topic, I have found that I talk too much. Can you believe that? For those who know me well, you don't have to answer that.

When I was in highschool, I knew all the words to a rap song called “You Talk Too Much” by Run DMC. Does anybody out there remember this song? Wow! Have my tastes in music changed over the years!

Below are some things that God has been teaching me about my tongue. Maybe we can pray for each other about this.

The best way to improve speech is to improve the heart, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). A heart filled with the Holy Spirit and the truth of the Word of God will produce godly speech that brings life to the speaker as well as the listener. This is where we start.

We create a world for ourselves by what we speak. Words have power, and we can either speak life or death into a situation. When I say something over and over I start to believe it. The Bible says that what we say can get us into trouble or keep us away from it. It can even save our lives. “ He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction” (Proverbs 13:3).

Here are a few other verses out of Proverbs.

Proverbs 10:19 (New International Version)
19 When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise.

Proverbs 12:18 (New International Version)
18 Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing

Proverbs 17:27 (New International Version)
27 A man of knowledge uses words with restraint,
and a man of understanding is even-tempered.

Proverbs 21:23 (New International Version)
23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself from calamity.

Proverbs 10:8 (New International Version)
8 The wise in heart accept commands,
but a chattering fool comes to ruin.

Proverbs 29:20 (New International Version)
20 Do you see a man who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

In a commentary by Nancy Leigh Demoss , she says it this way:

Proverbs reminds us that in the multitude of words—too many words—sin is inevitable. Too much talking leads to all kinds of other sins: the sin of exaggeration, lying, foolish jesting, meaningless chatter, and criticism. You get in a group, start talking, and you say too much. Invariably, I find myself about to say something—about someone else—that is critical. Almost always, I would have been better off if I had just restrained my lips and spoke less.
The tongue reveals the condition of my heart. The words that I speak are a mirror into my heart.

The words come out. That’s what’s heard; that’s what’s evident. But they reveal what is not so evident until I speak the words, and that is the condition of my heart. So if I’m a foolish person, I’m going to speak foolish words. If I have a wicked heart, the words that come out of my mouth are going to be wicked words.
Hundreds of years ago Francis DeSalles said this: “Our words are a faithful index of the state of our souls.” So, you want to know what’s in your heart? Jesus said, “Out of the abundance [or overflow] of the heart, the mouth speaks.”
So if I have a critical heart, what kinds of words are going to come out? Critical words. If I have a mean-spirited heart, what kinds of words are going to come out of my mouth? Mean words, unkind words.

If I have a proud heart, I’m going to speak arrogant words. If I have an unloving heart, I’m going to speak unkind words. A self-centered heart is going to speak selfish words. And when I speak angry words, what does that tell you about my heart? It means I’ve got an angry heart.

If I speak profane words, what does that tell you about my heart? It’s profane. Impatient words come out of an impatient heart. Complaining words come out of a discontented heart. A heart that is selfish is going to talk about what? Self.
I can remember my dad telling us as we were growing up that one of the important things in conversation is not to talk about yourself. He said, “People want to talk about themselves. So ask questions that draw them out.”
As you think about the people you know who have a lot of friends, people that others want to be around, one of the things you’ll notice is that they talk about others. They ask questions about others. They’re not always talking about themselves.

Also in the book of James:

James 3:1-12 (New International Version)

Taming the Tongue
1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise 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. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.


And last but not least:

Psalm 26:2 (New International Version)
2 Test me, O LORD, and try me,
examine my heart and my mind;

Psalm 51:10 (New International Version)
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.


I could go on and on.

Change my heart, O God!