Taming The Tongue

(James 3:3-12)…..Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. ⁴ Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. ⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

It is good and right to recognize the need to control the tongue. How many times has that little organ gotten us into big trouble? It is important that we work at controlling the tongue in light of the fact that we will give an account to God for every idle word we speak (Matthew 12:36). The word of God even tells us that our religion vain if our tongue not bridled (James 1:26). What do we do so that our tongue can be helped?

I.   PURIFY THE MIND (change the source). Filthy mouths come from filthy minds (Matthew 15:17-20), so renew your mind. Our heart is deceitful and wicked (Jeremiah 17:9), so get a new heart from the Lord.

II.  PRAY, REPENT AND CONFESS TO GOD (Psalm 51:10) (Psalm 141:3). Repent and pray to God when we err (Acts 8:22) (1 John 1:7-9). Take care to deal with each and every thought that comes to our mind.

III. CREATE A PROPER HABIT by replacing sinful behavior with righteous behavior (Ephesians 4:29) (Colossians 4:6). It must be done every time you err to form a habit. As with a child, a soldier, an animal. You must discipline yourself.

These things might help as you battle that wicked foe (the tongue) and bring it into submission to Christ Jesus.