Power of the Tongue

James 3:3-4

"We can make a large horse turn around

and go wherever we want

by means of a small bit in its mouth.

And a tiny rudder makes

a huge ship turn

wherever the pilot wants it to go,

even though the winds are strong."

James compares the tongue to a bit in the mouth of a horse and to the rudder of a ship, two very small things that exercise immense power. A small bit enables the rider to control the whole horse as a small rudder enables the captain to steer a large ship.

With one word, a life can change direction because words lead to deeds.

The power of our words is incredible! The bit in a horse's mouth and the rudder of a ship must be under the control of a very strong and steady hand in order to accomplish what they were created to accomplish. It is the same with our tongue. When God controls our tongue, He controls us ~ our actions, our feelings, and the way we impact others. The guidance you give or the direction your life may take is directly related to the words you speak AND sometimes more importantly (especially for chatty pattys like me) the words that you refuse to speak. Your tongue directs your life. What's inside our heart will eventually make its way out of our mouth.

Matthew 12:34-35 states,

"The mouth speaks the things that are in the heart.

Good people have good things in their hearts,

and so they say good things.

But evil people have evil in their hearts,

so they say evil things."

When Jesus is the Lord of the heart,

then He is Lord of the lips as well.

An obedient heart is under the control of Jesus Christ. In order to tame the tongue, we need a new heart, a new heart means new life, and there is only one who has the power to give us a new life -- Jesus Christ. When we ask Jesus Christ to come into our life, He makes everything new and He starts with the heart. A new heart produces a new mouth.

Proverbs 18:21

The tongue has the power of life and death,

and those who love it will eat its fruit.

[Words kill, words give life;

they're either poison or fruit—

you choose.

The Message]

My Prayer:
Father, thank You for Your power to change my heart, renew my mind, and give me new life. I praise You for the changes You are continuing to bring about in my life. Examine my heart and reveal to me how the words I speak come across to others. "Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips" (Psalm 141:3). Help me learn how to use my words as a tool for encouragement and growth in the lives of those to whom I speak. Today, I choose to make a new commitment to speaking right words from a right heart. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Think back over your day. How would you rate the health of the words you have spoken today? Were they destructive or helpful? Think back to a time when the harsh words of someone wounded you. How did those words make you feel? Is there someone who has suffered at the hand of your words? Are you willing to make it right?