Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.
(Psalm 141:3)
The tongue possesses tremendous power; so much so, that we are more likely to transgress with our speech than our actions.
. . . let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. (James 1:19)
Rash speech in a saint is an indication of spiritual immaturity, and the Lord calls us to a place of deeper understanding regarding our words. He is looking for those He can trust to speak with wisdom and grace, and He is looking for that wisdom and grace in you!
But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
(James 3:8)
Therefore, it is a futile exercise for a saint to try to control his or her speech. Our speech is not simply a matter of words, or it would be easy to alter the things we say. No, our speech is a matter of the heart, and it clearly reveals our heart's condition;
"For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34)
The work we do to guard our speech is that of purifying our hearts, and that can only be done by the Holy Spirit. If we submit ourselves to God, He will cleanse us and give us the power to speak kindly and truthfully, and He will receive glory from our every conversation.
The question is not one of speech, but of submission. The heart submitted to God speaks well. May the Lord give us deeper understanding in this truth.
Let’s pray – Heavenly Father, with Your help, I will be diligent to watch over my heart and my conversations, and to avoid injurious, callous, and careless speech always. I desire to be used to share the Good News of Jesus. Therefore, I have reserved my tongue for Your use. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Amen. This is impossible apart from the Holy Spirit. One can shut up....but it's a far cry from being quieted from the heart. Refraining from mumbling and grumbling apart from the Holy Spirit is like being tackled by the defense team linebackers in the middle of the field without being suited up for the game...you just standing there for the kill. But with much practice, studying to be slower to speak, prayer, practicing HIS presence, and the submitting to the cleansing of ones heart then shall you look up and find yourself being like a fearless quarterback. You can WIN!!!! and your mouth and speech won't hinder you. From my heart my mouth/lips start to be purified. Your talk is your walk. Only God....only God can do this.
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