The Power of the Tongue

We often quote (or hear quoted) that life and death is in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21).  It's a very familiar scripture; and often times, out of our familiarity with something we've heard more times than we can recall, we may overlook deeply embedded truths that can unlock new levels of understanding for us but are only uncovered in our time of meditation.  For instance, regarding the aforementioned verse of scripture, I've been greatly impacted by this interesting take on life and death being in the power of the tongue: Each statement we verbalize SIMULTANEOUSLY empowers certain things to live and other things to die.

I love when Holy Spirit gives me such profound insights into the scriptures because from them I'm able to develop better everyday habits through the application of both the written and spoken Word of Yahweh GOD.  This insight, in particular, has inspired me to begin asking myself BEFORE releasing words into the atmosphere, "What will my words empower to live, and what will they empower to die?"  Since BOTH happen each time we speak, as noted above, it's imperative that we not wait until AFTER our words have been released to consider this.  And by making it a practice to ask this question, especially in those moments wherein our emotions seem to be getting the best of us, we can step out of our feelings and be targeted--as opposed to careless--in our speech.  THAT'S the place in which we must strive to be.

Making a practice of employing simple tactics like this promotes self-improvement, inner growth and--most importantly--maturity.  As we undergo the process of maturing, it develops in us the ability to be strategic instead of haphazard.  And with a tool as powerful as the tongue right there at our disposal, our strategic usage of its power is of utmost importance for us to master.  If you would, please take a few moments to read James 3:1-12, which presents some extremely sobering thoughts pertaining to the tongue.  One verse in particular that I'd like to share from this passage is James 3:2, which reads, "For we all stumble in many things.  If someone does not stumble in the act of speaking, this is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body" (The One New Man Bible).  Our maturity in the act of speaking, according to this scripture, carries great recompense.  It teaches us that the key to keeping our bodies under subjection lies in consistently making a concerted effort to not stumble in our speech.  And because--as Messiah said in Matthew 15:8--out of the abundance of the heart (i.e. thoughts and feelings) the mouth speaks, we must--as mature children of GOD--see any potential (or actual) stumbling in speech as symptomatic of internal issues that need to be addressed BEFORE we speak (or say anything further).  It is prudent that we consider what will die BEFORE we speak because, once released, words cannot be taken back.