Open mouth, insert foot! How many times have we done that more than once and wanted to kick ourselves for not learning the first time? But there is a way to avoid that unpleasant event. Let’s continue and find out what God has to say.
Proverbs 6:2 (AMP)
2 You are snared with the words of your lips, you are caught by the speech of your mouth.
Proverbs 21:23 (KJV)
23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
We could stop right here with just these two scriptures that tell us that our words get us into trouble or keep us from trouble! Wow! Makes you want to practice the vocabulary of silence!
God isn’t telling us not to talk but to monitor every word that we speak because as a man thinks in his heart, so is he [Proverbs 23:7]. Plus our actions follow our most dominant thoughts! That’s a bit scary when you really think of it.
It pays to set a guard over the door of your mouth so that when you do speak, it’s what you really want to come to pass. Yes, people say dumb things that they really don’t mean but why say them if you don’t mean them – like –
it tickled me to death…
chocolate to die for…
that kills me…
that blows me away…
that gets under my skin…
that breaks my heart…
I love him to death or to pieces…
Matthew 12:35-37 (KJV)
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Those idle words spoken in Matthew refer to non-productive words – words that don’t produce any good. Why are we even saying things like that? Because we’ve been so inundated and programmed by the world’s speech and don’t even know that it’s wrong and producing death in us. Fear words produce fear, depression, anxiety, etc. God’s Word produces life, joy, peace.
Proverbs 18:21 (KJV) 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
You see dear brothers and sisters, it’s not just the good life words that produce but also the evil, anti-Word words we speak. These words are actually the vocabulary of the devil and who wants to go around saying what he says?
Proverbs 13:2-3 (KJV) 2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.
3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
This scripture is so powerful and says it like it is. If we really believed what God has said in His Word, we’d make a concerted effort to watch very word we speak so that we only speak that which is good, wholesome, edifying.
Philippians 4:8 (KJV)
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Be a blessing with your words — Pamela
Pamela Moyle Ministries 