Taming the Tongue My Lord Jesus Christ, I surrender my self, my mind, anxiety, anger and bitterness, my rebelliousness, arrogance, and self-condemnation, my fear, brokenness and sinfulness…all to You!  Please forgive me… I receive your complete and total forgiveness.  Holy Spirit…. I receive You, as pure gift into the deep center of my being.  I truly desire your fruit to flow out of me as I communicate…I trust You and will act like it.  In Jesus name I come against Satan and all my conversations!   Deliver us from the evil one, Father!  I receive You and all You have for me and will live like you are living through me in every communication I have this day! In Jesus Name.  Amen!

James 3: 3-8 NIV

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 

Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 

Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but makes great boasts.  

Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.

The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.  It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind,  but no human being can tame the tongue.  It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

 I truly do not know what to write here.   I have made several attempts all day, but haven’t been able to come up with anything!   Here is my final attempt.

What this says to me is that I; we all, need Jesus to help us with this!  This is why we need to be in constant prayer and be sensitive to the Holy Sprit that lives within each of us!

I for one have a difficult time communicating my thoughts and am often feel that I am misunderstood or not taken seriously.   If I don’t know what to say, I don’t say anything.  I really try to use my voice to encourage and help others to hear the truth about God to share what the Lord is saying through me.  I try not to let my emotions guide me or take it personally if what I am saying is not received in the way I intended.

This passage really drives it home that we need to be so careful in what we say and in how we say it!  And to also be ready to clarify when the listeners are not getting what we are saying.  Sometimes when it’s during a heated moment when emotions are very high and maybe interfering with the communication between two people.  The person who is speaking, maybe speaking the truth but saying it with a tone that isn’t loving or kind.  The person listening may not be really listening, but thinking about what they want to say next.

In the book Love and Respect,  by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs.  He describes this as the “Crazy Cycle” that we tend to go through in our attempts to communicate our thoughts and feelings, but not quite able to because one or neither of those involved in the conversation are really listening or hearing what the other is saying.

That’s the time as Pastor Delton talked about on Sunday, to step back for a time to cool down, pray, and listen to what God wants to say to us and through us.

I searched the word tongue on my Bible App., there are more than I have space here to list out, but here are a few,

Proverbs 15:4 The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

Psalm 34: 13  Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.

Proverbs 12:18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Psalm 39:1 I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked.”

Psalm 66:17  I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue.

Psalm 139:4  Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.

So as we surrender our whole selves, and especially our tongues to the Lord, let us commit to using our voices to praise God and uplift others with encouraging words.  If we must speak the truth that may hurt another,  speak it in love not anger or with a tone that is caring not condescending.   This is also a good place for GRACE!   Tangible Grace with one another, as we connect with others and share God’s love with them.

Thank you Jesus!  For coming and demonstrating how to communicate with God and others in a loving, caring way.   Please help each of us Lord as we speak with others, that we allow your love and Holy Spirit to flow through us.  Help us not to get in the way or prevent those that you bring into our lives from hearing the truth about you and their need for you.  Help us to trust you Lord, and step out in faith each day as your Ambassadors to the world, and to those right within our own homes. And share your love in ways that others will hear and receive it and you.   Amen.

Patrice