As members of the human race, I'm sure we can all agree each of us has something we can work on to improve ourselves. This is not only true of the world but for Christians as well. I know I'm still working on areas in my own life. Do you realize there are little snippets of wisdom and directions for "self-improvement" throughout the Bible? The problem is, many of us are too busy to read our Bibles. But even when we do, we often rush over words or skim over verses without intentional thought to allow them to seep slowly into our minds. The Bible is a book full of positive words that can change the outcome of your life. It is a book that literally has healing power and answers we so desperately need. WORDS ARE POWERFUL! Today I'm going to list scriptures that will hopefully open your eyes and make you understand how dangerous the negative words we use can be.
I'm going to start by sharing a story I read online. No author was listed.
A young woman confessed to an older man that she had a problem saying too much about people. He told her to go buy a bird and pluck out all its feathers one by one as penance for her sin. When she returned and told the man that she had followed his instructions, he said, "Now go and pick up all the feathers." "I can't do that," said the girl. "The wind has blown them in all directions!" "That is true, said the wise man." "Neither can you recall the words that you have spoken." Powerful visual. How about an additional picture of how impossible it is to take back something once you've said it. Squeeze a tube of toothpaste and then try to put the toothpaste back in. It's nearly impossible to do. It's the same with our negative words once they've found their way out of our mouths. The Bible says, "The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members (Christians), that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course if nature; and it is set on fire of hell" (James 3:6). James is describing the amazing power our words have, which can do huge things, many of them greatly destructive. The picture isn't pretty. He describes the tongue itself as a fire, meaning it can burn whatever we touch with our words ... relationships, friendships, etc. What comes from the tongue? Lies, gossip, hurtful words, cursing, perverse language, etc. What's so bad about this is that the tongue is the member which corrupts all of the other parts of our bodies! The words we say with our tongues in our lack of self-control are powerfully evil and destructive. It's not a small problem. The truth is, it's rooted in the fundamental spiritual problems we all have: pride and lack of self-control.
The subject of our tongues and the powerful words we speak is addressed all throughout the Bible, insomuch there are numerous warnings regarding it. Here are a few examples:
1 Peter 3:10 "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech."
Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths ..."
Proverbs 10:19 "Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues."
Proverbs 15:4 "The soothing tongue is a tree if life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit."
Proverbs 15:28 "The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil."
Matthew 15:11 "What goes in someone's mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them."
Proverbs 21:23 "Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity."
Psalm 34:13 "Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies."
I could easily write 50 more. Human words are powerful and though the tongue is small it is capable of wreaking great havoc. Any person who could perfectly control their words would be in perfect control of their entire bodies. Unfortunately, our tongues are untamable without the Holy Spirit. Blessing God and cursing people should not come out of the same mouth. I need growth in this area too. I see political nonsense on TV, hatred for the President, the radicalization of our college youth, our Republic turning to socialism, etc. and I sometimes lose it. I too struggle to keep my tongue in certain situations so I am not pointing fingers at anyone. I want us to realize how powerful the tongue is, for in it is the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21). That's scary! Did you know you can literally ruin a person's life with your words? Think about that! As a small example, what about the child whose dad constantly berates his son for years on end, telling him he is stupid and will never amount to anything. And the son doesn't!
It is so important to think before you speak. Remember, perverse (or cutting) words crush the spirit. Are you crushing others? Are you wounding and maiming others as well as yourself? Words cannot be recaptured once they've escaped our lips. THE SAME GOES FOR KIND WORDS TOO! They stick.
Proverbs 16:24 "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body."
Proverbs 15:1 "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."
Proverbs 25:11 "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver."
Psalm 9:14 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."
Proverbs 12:18 "There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."
Again, I could easily write 50 more.
It's very sad but I know people right now that are living in defeat and depression because of the words that were spoken to them when they were growing up. I was in that category too. I know people who believe they are worthless, no good, stupid, and will never amount to anything because that is what they were told growing up as a child. I can relate! There are people still suffering from the verbal abuse that they received from a parent, coach, teacher, even some pastors or priests. Matthew 12: 36-37 "Every idle (careless) word that men speak, they will give an account thereof in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned." What does your tongue say about you? What does it reveal about you? If I were to play back a tape of EVERY conversation you've had in this past week, what would I learn about you? GOD HEARS IT ALL! Our tongues display who we are. The tongue controls the direction of your life like a rudder. As a rudder must be under the hand of a strong man or a boat goes off course, so too must a strong hand be in control of your tongue. James tells us that the only way to get control of our tongue is to let Jesus Christ have control of our heart. Why? Because whatever is in our heart is going to come out of our mouth, Matthew 12:34 "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." You have to let Christ's hand be your rudder and let Him direct your life. Ask for His help. Start by following His instructions, read His Word, think on positive things ... whatsoever things are honest, just, pure, of good report, etc. (Philippians 4:8). Let those things bathe your mind and thereby, changing it. Your "stinking thinking" will change, therefore your conversation will change.
Until next time,
-Pat-
Another very important teaching. The phrase "stinking thinking" was coined by Joyce Meyer many yrs ago. Joyce has taught extensively on the power of words also. There is a Proverb, I have to look it up, that says "place a guard over my lips O Lord that I may not sin against thee". When we don't hold our tongues and allow anything we want to come out we can actually be sinning. Anything we say that is contrary to scripture, like the examples Pat has written above, is sinning against God. I was thinking about a childhood friend who's brother was constantly called names by their father. The father was a bitter man and he took it out on his son. He rarely called him by name, it was always meat head, stupid, the idiot. It made me so angry! I stood up to him for many yrs and confronted him each time he called his son a derogatory name. He is long gone, having died a bitter and lonely man and his son, well he hasn't had much success in life. My childhood friend, has not had much success in life either, despite being very intelligent and educated, and it's not hard to understand why. People have no idea how much damage they do to others with their words.
ReplyDeleteThank you Pat, for bringing this up. I pray it will change all of us who read it. May we ever be aware of the power we have to either bless or curse!
Yes, "stinking thinking" was coined by Joyce Meyer and it has always stuck in my head. The way you think will determine your actions whether that manifests verbally or physically. This is why the Word instructs us to renew our mind BY THE WORD. The more you read, the more you understand. The more you understand the easier it is to obey what is written therein. Your actions change, your thinking changes, your tongue aligns itself with the Word which responds much like a bit does in a horses' mouth. Don't go there, turn away from temptation, don't say that, say this, avoid sin, etc.
ReplyDeleteVery true Pat, I think you aimed this blog straight for me...when stress overtakes me, I find my tongue becomes sharp like a sword, lashing out in anger...I'm ashamed and ask God for forgiveness everyday because of it...retail work is very trying and stressful...thank you for this amazing blog
ReplyDeleteWe all have areas that need work. I do too, Kerry. I write these blogs but I'm no better than anyone. I need to bridle my tongue at times because of frustrating circumstances. The important thing is, you are immediately convicted about your behavior (that's the Holy Spirit convicting you)and you seek forgiveness as is instructed we do. That is what is required as we live in this body of flesh but with a heart that genuinely wants to please God. As believers, we have the mercy and forgiveness of Jesus. Keep walking with Him. He loves you and will continue to guide you through the Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this blog and all the comments!
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