WATCH YOUR MOUTH

 Charles Capps, in his book “WHY TRAGEDY HAPPENS TO CHRISTIANS,” wrote this statement: “Satan has deceived the Body of Christ into confessing their fear rather than their faith.” Unfortunately, when we do this, we are aligning ourselves with the enemy. Yes, when facing difficulty, it is hard to think and talk positively, but that is what we must do to overcome the enemy’s attacks.

James describes the tongue as small but capable of great damage. This tongue, when we use it incorrectly, not only harms others but is also harmful to us. James 3:8 declares, “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” We, believers, can be thankful for the Holy Spirit’s assistance in bringing our unruly tongue under subjection, for on our own we probably would not be successful.

As I listen to the words we speak, I realize we have forgotten what Solomon said in Proverbs 18:21a: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue,” meaning the things we say can be life-giving or deadly. Though many of us have read scriptures that reveal that what we say can affect our future, we still forge ahead without giving thought to the words we speak.

Paul instructs us in 1Thessalonians 4:11a, “And that ye study to be quiet.” Using the Greek translation of the word “study” in this verse means to strive, labor, or do something earnestly. This tells me there is work involved in being quiet; it is not something that automatically happens; it takes effort. None of us can do this on our own. We must use the Word in our confessions, allow the Holy Spirit to assist us in our speaking, and finally pray as David did in Psalm 141:3, “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.”