The Tongue (Part 4)

You can change the entire course of your life by bringing your tongue under the control of the Holy Spirit. If you are living in discouragement, failure, or defeat in any area of your life, you can change this by correcting your speech, by restraining your tongue from negative words, and by speaking words of life, blessing, and faith. 

God requires you to discipline your tongue and bring it under the control of the Holy Spirit. This does not happen automatically. You are commanded:

Psalm 34:13 AMP “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.”

King Solomon warned in Ecclesiastes 5:6, AMP: “Do not allow your mouth to cause your body to sin.”

The Apostle Peter said in 1 Peter 3:10 NIV: “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.”

Like King David, you must purpose in your heart that you will not sin with your mouth. David said in Psalm 17:3:

“I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.” 

Psalm 39:1 “I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.”

The word keep is translated from a Hebrew word which means to guard or protect. You must guard your tongue and keep close watch over the words you speak. You must restrain your tongue and refuse to yield to the flesh by speaking evil, vain, or idle words.

You must be vigilant to guard your tongue. Be alert for any sign that the enemy is using your words to sin against God.   Do not let Satan control your tongue and use it to destroy you.   Remember that each time you criticize, backbite, gossip, lie, slander, or spread discord, you are yielding your tongue to Satan!

Paul wrote in  Ephesians 4:29; 31-32 AMP “Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word, nor unwholesome or worthless talk (ever) come out of your mouth; but only such (speech) as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it.”

Paul said you are to speak what is fitting and blesses others.

So analyze your words today. 

-Are you using foul, negative, demeaning words?

-Are you speaking evil, telling dirty jokes and using profanity?  

-What kind of testimony are the words of your mouth to those around you who are lost in sin? 

Determine to speak only what is good and beneficial, words that are wholesome and fitting to the need or occasion.  You have the power to change the course of your entire life by controlling your tongue.