Taming Your Tongue / Author: Sara Beth
What does it mean to God to control what comes out of your mouth?
It means you speak according to His heart and will. You represent Him real-time in your spoken words which is different than written words which can be studied and edited over and over before being carefully released. It means you trust Him 100% and therefore tune into Him continually. You’re quiet in your soul in order to hear Him. His voice is soft, gentle, and quiet. His Word and His Spirit work together to guide us.
Words have POWER! Speech is the greatest power we have on ourselves and others. God spoke—and earth existed!!! Not one of His words return void!!! How eternally thankful that His words reflect the most perfect loving amazing heart!!!
- Psalm 33:6-9 By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made and all the host of them … … for He spoke, and it was done; He commanded and it stood fast.
- Psalm 19:1-4 The heavens declare the glory of God … … their words have gone out to the ends of the world.
- Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discern-er of the thoughts and intents of the heart
As His children, we are expected to mature in our spoken words. The more tamed our tongue, the more He can use us in His Work. He has given us much instruction in the Word.
- Matthew 12:36-37 But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned
- Psalm 34:12-13 What man is he that desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile.
- Psalm 139:4 For there is not a word in my tongue, Oh Lord, You know it altogether.
- Jeremiah 17:10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give to every man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings.
- Ecclesiastes 5:2 Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter anything before God, for God is in heaven, and you’re on earth; therefore let your words be few.
- 1 Peter 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no guile.
Heart Connection
The mouth can conceal one’s heart motive. Those scriptures are not addressed here. Most often, words reveal one’s heart! For example, they can reveal haste, pride, fear, bitterness doubt, deceit, and selfishness.
- Matthew 15:18 Those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile the man.
- Proverbs 16:23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips. Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart having heard the Word, keep it and bring forth fruit with patience.
- Psalm 119:11 Your Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
- Romans 10:8-10 The Word is near you, even in your mouth, and in your heart; that is,, the Word of faith, which we preach; that if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth…confession is made unto salvation.
- Job 33:3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
Jesus Christ’s Example
- John 5:30 I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge and my judgement is just because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father Who has sent me.
- John 8:28 Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you shall know that I AM, and that I do nothing of Myself, but as My Father has taught Me, I speak these things.
- John 6:63 It is the Spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak unto you — they are Spirit and they are Life.
- John 12:49 For I have not spoken of Myself, but the Father Who sent Me, He gave Me a commandment — what I should say, and what I should speak.
- John 14:10 Do you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself — but the Father that dwells in Me, He does the works.
- Matthew 8:8b … speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
- Psalm 45:2 You are fairer than the children of men; grace is poured into Your lips; therefore God has blessed You forever.
Learn how to speak life honorably
Without intentional engagement, our hearts automatically spew forth our words. God’s Spirit dwells alongside our spirit-mind in order to govern the path of our emotions, feelings, and words. Read the Word of God for instructions that help identify which words to speak and not speak, even when we are already thinking/feeling them.
Meditate on God’s way of feeling and thinking. Over time, our thinking/feeling will morph into His way. We are expected to guard our mouth even when it is difficult. As our hearts and minds mature, we won’t have so many ungodly words come to our lips.
- Proverbs 15:28 heart of the righteous studies to answer
- Psalm 17:3-4 God proves my heart, I purpose that my mouth not transgress
- Psalm 141:3 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
- Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
- Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, Oh God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the Way everlasting.
- Psalm 49:3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
- 1 Peter 3:10 For he that will love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.
What does it mean to you to control what comes out of your mouth?
S-L-O-W D-O-W-N ! ! !
Employ the governor of God’s Holy Spirit. Engage the governor of His Spirit, like the governor on a go cart, mini bike, or boat for children and beginners which mechanically limits the top speed in order to prevent/minimize accidents. God wants our reins to respond to His instruction, yet He employs a bit and bridle when needed!
Submit to the Holy Spirit to “keep yourself in check” rather than react “without thinking.” Be no longer enslaved to the god of Hurry. There is no rush. When we rush as if everything is an emergency, we create and prolong long lasting emergency situations that are often invisible to the human eye. (psychological, spiritual, emotional, relational, financial)
Kindness means to take enough time to honor and help another. A few considered, thoughtful words bless others—much more than a flurry of careless unchecked words.
- Psalm 32:8-9 I will instruct you and teach you in the Way you should go. I will guide you with My eye. Be not as the horse or mule which have no understanding, whose mouth must be held with bit and bridle, lest they come near you.
- Psalm 16:7 I will bless the Lord Who has given me counsel. My reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
- Proverbs 23:16 Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when your lips speak right things.
- Proverbs 15:23 … a word spoken in due season–how good it is!
- Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold inscribed with silver.
- Proverbs 31:26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness
- Isaiah 54:8 In a little wrath I had my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on you, says the Lord your Redeemer.
- 2 Corinthians 6:6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by love unfeigned.
- Colombians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering.
Swap earthly-sensual-devilish-wisdom for wisdom-from-above.
Change the environment. Change the atmosphere. Choose words that minimize us — and glorify God. Empower others to walk in the light. Declare God’s words. They have way more power than our words! Listen and sing about God’s heart, character, and works. Tell the truth and Be the truth. Forsake our thoughts in exchange for God’s thoughts.
- Isaiah 6:5-7 woe! help! my unclean lips
- Isaiah 57:19 LORD creates the fruit of lips
- James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
- Proverbs 12:18 There is that speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise is health.
- Proverbs 10:19 in the multitude of words there’s no lack of sin, but he that refrains his lips is wise
- Psalm 51:15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
- Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.
- Isaiah 55:6-12 (God’s thoughts and words)
- John 14:6-7 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life …”
- Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience . . .
HASTE
- James 1:19 Wherefore my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.
- Ecclesiastes 5:2 Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter anything before
- God; for God is in heaven, and you’re upon earth; therefore let your words be few.
- Ecclesiastes 7:9 Be not hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.
- Proverbs 14:29 He that’s slow to wrath is of great understanding, but he that’s hasty of spirit exalts folly. Proverbs 29:20 See a man hasty in his words? There’s more hope of a fool than of him.
- Philippians 4:11 I have learned in whatever state i am, to be content
- 1 Timothy 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
- Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have, for He has said, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
PRIDE
- Psalms 12:3, 59:7, 12, 101:5,
- Proverbs 28:25, 8:13, 14:3
FEAR
- Mark 4:40
- Philippians 1:14
- Daniel 10:19
- Psalm 56:4
- Isaiah 29:13
BITTERNESS
- Romans 3:14
- Hebrews 12:15
- Acts 8:21-23
- Ephesians 4:31
- Psalm 64:3
DOUBT
- Acts 2:12
- Mark 11:23
- Luke 12:29
- Romans 14:1
- 1 Timothy 2:8
DECEIT
- Romans 3:13
- Psalms 10:7, 12:2, 36:3, 50:19
- Proverbs 12:17, 26:24
ENVY
- James 3:16, 4:5
- Psalms 37:1, 73:3
- Proverbs 24:1
- 1 Timothy 6:4, Titus 3:3
New words will come forth!
- Acts 4:20 For we can’t help but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
- Psalm 40:9-10 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation. Behold, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, You know. I have not hid Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation;. I have not concealed Your loving-kindness and Your truth from the great congregation.
- 1 Samuel 2:1 and Hannah prayed, “My heart rejoices in the Lord, my horn is exalted in the Lord, my mouth is enlarged over my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation.”
- Luke 19:37-38 The whole multitude of disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying “Blessed be the King that comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.”
Homework
Some of the wicked ways are our own transgressions, and others are hurts that we suffered at the hand of others. God is ready and able to rescue and restore us from every evil. Yet —not in haste!
- Psalm 139:4, 23-24 For there is not a word in my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the Way everlasting.
Song: Let The Words Of My Mouth
