TAMING OF THE TONGUE

Lesson 39

As we all know, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that indulge it shall eat the fruit thereof.”  Prov.18:21.  This truly a mouthful!

As we ponder on it, we realize that we frame our lives by what we speak and we will eat the fruit of what we speak!  This is a sobering word and it is important for us to learn how to guard our tongues to speak only that which will bring life.  

As we listen to what comes forth from our mouths, we will also discover what we harbor in our hearts, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  As we discover regret, bitterness, records of wrongs, we can deal with it through repentance, forgiveness and the choice to bless others. If you find hard places of hurts in your heart, bring it before the Lord and ask Him to cleanse and to heal your heart of all negative memories.

Therefore it needs discipline on our behalf to bring our tongues under control of the Holy Spirit  and it will serve us well to take a moment every morning to ponder on these points:

1: Purpose to speak with wisdom – especially not to bring up negative things from the past, but to leave it behind once for all. (Phil.3:13-14)

2: Thanksgiving gives us entry into the gates of the Lord’s presence.  

3: Purpose to only speak life into others, not to remark on the negative: edify, comfort, exhort!

4: Ps.39:1 – Praying for the fruit of self-control (over my tongue) for the day. I Purpose in my heart to not participate in any negative speaking. Respond with wisdom to any negative remark.

5: Psalm 45:2/ Luke 4:22 (Grace on our lips). Speaking light into darkness.

6: Only speaking life over every part of my life, sphere of influence and future. You shall declare a thing and it shall be established (Job 22:28).

7: Psalm 19:14 – Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing unto You, my Rock and my Redeemer.