What’s in your mouth!

As parents we tell our children, WATCH YOUR MOUTH. Yet we ourselves don’t make a conscious effort to watch ours. So our children hear when we bash other people. Do you know there are so many people who are critical of others, no matter how good people perform they will find something to be critical about. They are always saying negative things and cannot seem to speak well of others. Though you will be tempted to lash out, speak ill, get angry, tell someone off, speak roughly to a stranger or co-worker, hold your peace and walk away.

Take the love path, the sooner you realize you don’t have to fight every battle trying to defend yourself, the sooner you will happier emotionally, mentally and relationally. From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. So if the heart is filled with jealousy, arrogance, pride, bitterness and it’s all about me attitude, then that’s going to flow out of your mouth. What’s in your mouth is what’s been cultivated in your heart. Don’t you wish sometimes you hold your tongue before jumping to conclusions? The Holy Spirit is your constant help, especially in those angry moments.

Think about Romans 12:21

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” You are not a person of evil and vile things, don’t let people put you there. Don’t answer to the labels someone put on you.

James 3:8

Describes the tongue as unruly, restless evil, full of deadly poison. Men have tamed many things but yet unable to tame the tongue. However by the power of the Holy Spirit we have the power over what we say and how we say it. Who wants to be in a place where they cannot control what comes out of their mouth?

James 3:9

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. When you attack someone’s makeup and demean their personality, you are attacking the very likeness of God.

Ephesians 4:29 states clearly,

Let no unwholesome or corrupt word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Watch what’s coming out of your mouth.

Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? Bitter or sweet which will it be? If we will not put bitter foods into our mouths daily, why are we allowing bitter words to come out to hurt other people? It is not our jobs to destroy people with our words. We have been created to build each other up. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

Colossians 4:6

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” In the world today it is easy to get caught up in speaking ill things about people and become sucked into conversations I have no business being a part of and agreeing with things that should not be a part of your standards.

It’s important to speak the truth in love, so instead of allowing anger, hurt and vexation to rule your heart, you get to choose love. It may not be popular or feel like the logical path, but I have proven that love wins every time. So whoever is your challenge right now, make that person your prayer assignment. Even your enemies, Romans 12:20-21 “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”

Important things we can use the tongue to accomplish

Use your tongue to speak life not ill things about other people

Use your tongue to build up not pull down

Use your tongue to compliment not always criticize unless it’s constructive

Use your mouth to speak sweet words not bitter ones

Use your tongue to praise God and others

Use your tongue to establish what the word of God declares

Use your tongue to encourage someone

Use your tongue to create a positive environment around you

The power of death and life are in the tongue. We get to decide how we are going to use this great tool that God has given to us. My pastor always says some people have a mouth and don’t know what to do with it. What are you doing with the mouth you’ve got? Are you constantly tearing down or are you making an effort to esteem others. Make it a practice every day for one month not to say anything negative about anyone or anything; not the government, not your boss not your co-worker, not even your children. I know they might do everything to get on your last nerve, but hold your peace. Take the power and reigns of your tongue and guide it with the power of the word. Make a conscious and deliberate effort to speak good things.

What’s in your mouth? Life or death.