Foolish talk

A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul. Proverbs 18:6‭-‬7 NKJV

Scripture is clear, our words show the condition of our heart.

Matthew 12:35 KJV — A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Yet, it is uncommon to find people who can control their tongue.

James 3:8 KJV — But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Despite the difficultiy of taming so unruly a member, what we say we shall answer for.

Matthew 12:36 KJV — But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

The Lord wants us to allow Him to cleanse our speech from the inside out.

Ezekiel 36:26 KJV — A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV — But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV — Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Each one of us can look back and recognize the fool in ourselves by the words we can not retrieve.

No one is exempt from wishing they could take back their words, but we have hope for change.

Through God’s Word we find truth and righteousness.

It’s pages are filled with not only instruction on how to live, but also encouragement that through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice we can be cleansed, through the work of the Holy Spirit we can overcome the error of fools.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your salvation. Lord Jesus, please help me tame my tongue, to be self disciplined with my speech. Lord Jesus, You said out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Lord, please help me carve Your Word into my heart. Teach my lips what to say and when to be silent. Lord Jesus please help me to be honest and honorable before You that I might not quench the Holy Spirit. Lord, I want to be sensitive to Your leading, not continually going astray. Thank You for Your patience with me. Thank You for Your Word which guides and instructs. Thank You for Your loving kindness and long suffering. Lord, help me be more like You each day. I love You. Amen.

Speak truth

The truthful lip shall be established forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment. Proverbs 12:19 NKJV

There is a reason the Bible has so much instruction about our words.

Truth or lies from our lips is a testament to the condition of our hearts.

Matthew 12:34 KJV — O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Luke 6:45 KJV — A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Not only do our words reveal the state of our hearts, it is a sure sign of our relationship with God.

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.
Proverbs 12:22 NKJV

Listen to the things which flow from your own lips and be diligent to mend those things which are dishonorable before Almighty God, for those who are followers of Christ should be people who speak with purpose and truth.

Colossians 4:6 KJV — Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

If our words are ugly, filthy, or false repentance and humility should be our response before Jesus, for the responsibility of those called by His name is weighty, our lives reflect directly upon our Lord.

He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
Proverbs 13:3 NKJV

It is impossible to tame the tongue on our own.

For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
James 3:2 NKJV

Only in Christ can we be made perfect.

It takes continually humbling and submitting ourselves before Jesus Christ, seeking the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, But the righteous will come through trouble.
Proverbs 12:13 NKJV

The Lord understands both the dangers and the difficulties of our unruly words.

He has given us instruction, that we might learn and grow, becoming more skilled with the training of our hearts and lips.

He has blessed us with His Holy Spirit to give us that which is required to follow these things.

He has granted us forgiveness from sins, that we might find hope while learning to live daily speaking truth.

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:29‭-‬32 NKJV

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for truth and the ability to learn restraint with our words. Lord, thank You for instruction in how to walk in Your ways and how to recognize danger and sin. Lord, please continue to teach us how to be more like You every day. Lord, please hone our hearts, that no evil thing might be allowed to reside there. Lord, cleanse us completely from all unrighteousness, that we might not sin against You. Lord, walking daily in this sinful world with our sin nature means we often do not even recognize truth from a lie, sin from righteousness. Lord, please help us to learn from Your Word in such a way that we can understand Your truth clearly, without twisting it to our own purpose or selfishly applying it to others rather than ourselves. Lord, please purify Your people, that we might not reflect badly upon Your name. Thank You for Your salvation! Thank You for Your truth! I love You, Jesus. Amen.

Why complain?

Lamentations 3:39 NKJV — Why should a living man complain, A man for the punishment of his sins?

No one has to teach a child to complain.

Mankind’s flesh seems bent on verbalizing those things that do not please.

Yet, how many circumstances which one feels the need to vent are not simply a consequence of sin?

At times, the occasion is caused by one’s own sin and at times, others.

Do we have the right to verbally air our grievances in the form of complaining?

Are we not equally guilty of sin?

After all, complaining does little to resolve anything, and is often a tool to divide.

Has anyone desired to spend more time with a person whose complaints are frequent?

Complaining tears down.

Lamentations 3:40 NKJV — Let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to the LORD;

Instead of complaining, focus on God.

When our eyes are on Jesus, our reasons for complaining should disappear.

What is required more than salvation?

Jesus is our example in all things.

He spoke the truth in love.

He walked in the path given Him with joy.

Let’s follow His example.

Lamentations 3:41 NKJV — Let us lift our hearts and hands To God in heaven.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for this beautiful reminder to watch our attitudes and our words. Lord, as long as sin is part of this world, I know that I will struggle with complaining, but it’s not honorable before You and it doesn’t bring a blessing to anyone. Please, help me to speak the truth in love. Please help me to guard my heart and my lips, that I might not sin against You nor others. Please teach me how to replace complaining with thankfulness. Lord, I want to focus on You and not those things which are a result of sin. I lift my heart and hands to You. You are awesome, God! Thank You! I love You. Amen.

Always with grace

One misspoken word can cause an avalanche of emotion.

Always speaking with grace sounds simple.

But…

Sometimes, I just don’t know what to say.

Other times, I really wish I’d remained silent.

Once spoken, one can’t retrieve those words.

Since childhood, I’ve found my mouth getting me into trouble.

Talking comes so much more naturally than being silent.

To make matters worse, if I’m nervous I normally talk more.

Not a positive trait.

Because more words means more opportunities to say something I shouldn’t.

As with all things, scripture is my go to for this area of struggle.

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. Colossians 4:6 NKJV

Always speak words of grace, seasoned with salt.

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Ephesians 4:29 NKJV

Nothing which is spoken should poison or harm, instead words should be healing truth filled with love and grace.

Psalm 19:14 KJV — Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

The words spoken and the thoughts focused on are directly linked and need to be under the Lordship of Christ.

I have prayed these verses in my desire to speak only uplifting and encouraging words.

For wrestling with my untamable tongue continues.

It’s also a lesson I’m trying to teach.

I’ve asked more than once, “Was that kind?”

Colossians 3:12 NKJV — Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

How we speak, act, think, and respond should all be within the boundaries of protection the Lord set up in His Word.

If I’m allowing unkind speech out of my mouth, what are the thoughts of my heart?

Matthew 12:34 KJV — O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (emphasis mine)

Therefore my speech is a mirror of my heart’s condition.

Of course, I’m powerless to train myself at all, only through the Lord Jesus and His guidance can my actions and attitudes change.

How encouraging to look backwards and see He has brought me so far from where I used to be.

How thankful I am for His patient instruction.

Conviction really is a blessing.

Thus, I’m praising God for His Word, His patient correction, and His love.

I’m also continuing to lift up my struggles in prayer.

Psalm 141:3 NKJV — Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word and Your guidance. I desperately want to sow good things in life and I know this area of words is a vital part. Please Lord, set a guard over my mouth, and a door upon my lips that I might not sin. Lord Jesus, cleanse my heart and renew my mind, that I might be able to walk in Your ways, being led by Your Spirit. Lord Jesus, I want to live in such a way as to redeem the time, please teach me daily how to do so. Thank You. I love You, Jesus.