Tongue Tied

For we all stumble and sin in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says [never saying the wrong thing], he is a perfect man [fully developed in character, without serious flaws], able to bridle his whole body and rein in his entire nature [taming his human faults and weaknesses]. (James 3:2, AMP)

Let’s take a look at James 3 this week.  Please try to find time to read it, so that you can get even more out of the devotionals this week.

I will be giving you a daily verse with a picture.  Please feel free to choose one to memorize.  You are welcome to drag any picture to your desktop and use it as a tool to memorize Scripture.

Let’s talk about James 3:2…

“We 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.”

This passage of Scripture hits the nail on the head.  We ALL stumble in many ways!  None of us has this down yet, but God continues to give us instructions on how to be better at this thing called life.  The tongue is the most difficult member of the body to control.  It wants to have it’s own way.  It often says things without thinking through them.  It is loose.  Let’s take time to train our tongues this week!

The biggest thing that influences what our tongues say is the condition of our hearts.  Whatever we take in, we will eventually see come out through our words.

“…For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.  The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.  But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.” (Matthew 12:34-36)

What is your heart filled up with?  Are you filled up with God’s Word, ready to speak Truth into the lives of those around you?  Let’s take a look at a quote from John C. Maxwell in his book, “Think on These Things”…

Words have never been more true than those of the Proverb, “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”  We have all heard the comment about an individual who lacks tact in his conversation:  “He says what he thinks.”  That comment could be made about each one of us.  Although we may not instantly blurt out our initial reactions, they will come out sooner or later if we continue to think about them.  What enters our mind and occupies our thought process will somewhere, sometime, come out of our mouth.

What are you spending your time on thinking about?  Are you thinking on things that bring God glory?  Have you allowed the Lord to renew your mind, so that you might speak life giving words?

I can honestly tell you that I continue to work on all of this myself.  My tongue tends to get me into a lot of trouble.  I do my best to choose each word wisely, but my tongue has a way of getting loose from me.  Here is a proverb that shares the desire of my heart for my personal tongue,

“The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:4)

I desire to have a tongue that brings healing.  Do you?

Dear Father God, Please help me tame my tongue.  I desire to speak words that are loving, pure, admirable and true.  I desire to have a heart so filled up with the things of you that your praises naturally flow from my lips.  Lord, I pray that my tongue will submit to Your authority and that I may choose my words wisely. 

Taming my Tongue,