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Taming the Tongue
Solve this riddle: I am one of the
smallest members of your body, but I can
cause you some of the biggest trouble.
What am I? The answer: your tongue. For an organ
that is so small, it can get us into
some tight predicaments. Why do you think it
is so difficult to tame the tongue? The
book of James says that it is a little
member of the body, but no one can tame
the tongue. Think about all the
things you have lived to regret
that have flowed from your tongue across
your lips, never to be recounted or
re-called.
The essence of the
problem lies in the fact that the
tongue simply speaks what the heart and
mind put forward. Jesus teaches us that
out of the mouth flows the attitude of
the heart. That is difficult to
swallow, for it is easier to think that
what comes out of my mouth is just
random, spur of the moment. However, it
is what I say at random or spur of the
moment that shows my heart and attitude
about that which I speak.
It is easier to
criticize than to praise, easier to cut
down than to build up, easier to
discourage than encourage. Proverbs
tells us that life and death are in the
tongue. We praise and curse with the
same tongue, how can that be? We are
double minded with our words. Think
about how many positive words you speak
versus negative, good versus evil.
I want to challenge you to really think
before you speak. Stop before you say
something hurtful or tell the latest
gossip. We are all human and our
natural desire is to share the latest
dirt, but who does it benefit? We must
begin to control our words by
controlling our attitudes and thoughts.
Gossip and rumors cause more grief in
human relationships than we will ever
know.
To change our speech,
we have to change habits in this area as
well.
Remember if someone will gossip to you
they will gossip about you. It has been
said that a gossip is someone who can
give you all the details without knowing
any of the facts. Think before you speak.
This is really hard for me as well, as
my nature is to say what comes to mind,
without regard for others feelings. God
is really trying to get me to see that I
must honor others with my words.
When you begin to talk about something
or someone put what you are about to say
to this little test.
THINK:
Is what I am about to say true?
Does what I am about to say honor the other person?
Can I say it and maintain integrity
?
Is what I am about to say necessary?
Is what I am about to say kind?
Follow this little formula and THINK
before you speak.
Remember let your word's be sweet -- you
never know when you may have to eat
them.
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