5 Jan 2015 by Reverend Dr Jai Kumar –
James 3:8
But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK
Why do we speak hastily and abruptly and sound loudly instead of waiting and listening? As a result you only create an atmosphere of anger and frustration. Your Adrenaline is rushing high, your blood pressure is elevated and your stress level goes beyond control. Have you ever recalled that most of the time we regret and apologise for saying things that we shouldn’t have uttered at all! We become overwhelmed by the damage we have already caused others in view of our behavior.
James1:19 NAS
{This} you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak {and} slow to anger;
James 1:26
“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”
The tongue is humanly untamable but God can bridle it, if you allow Him to do so. God’s responsibility is to tame the tongue but we need to cooperate with Him by responding to Him. We must acknowledge the fact that humanly it’s impossible to bring the tongue under control. God can tame the tongue but it’s our responsibility to work together with God to bridle the tongue.
I want to give you a simple analogy. Can a wild horse be tamed overnight? Absolutely not! It takes time to break the horse. So does it take time to tame the human tongue!
When you can bridle the horse, you can take control of it. When you can take control of it, you are able to discipline it accordingly and over time you achieve the results of breaking the horse. So goes our tongue which apparently is wild like the horse and it needs to be bridled to be tamed. And only God can help you to bridle it.
Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. – Plato
DON’T SAY ANYTHING WITHOUT WISDOM
Prov.17:27-28
He who has knowledge spares his words,
And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
People who are really smart are people with few words.
Wisdom dictates that the best time to hold your tongue is when you feel like you just have to say something. On the other hand, ignorance is always eager to speak, resulting in hurtful remarks. You know what? When you don’t know what to say, “shut up!”. Just say nothing and listen! After all, you learn nothing while you are talking without wisdom.
Eph 4:27
“Do not give the devil a foothold”
YOU CAN EITHER BLOW UP BRIDGES OR BUILD UP BRIDGES
King Solomon said, “WORDS” kill, “WORDS” give life. What you speak out has the capacity to either bless or curse SOMEBODY. In other words, your words are like an explosive, they can blow up bridges or heal hearts. IT CAN EITHER CREATE OR DESTROY. Even though words are the most powerful lethal tools that God has given us, have you ever realized that we have often taken it for granted? We have greatly underestimated its power!
Seriously speaking! People can live and people can die! Because of the power of words spoken upon their lives.
Prov.18:21
“Life and death are in the power of the tongue.”
Here is what we need to understand very importantly. If life and death are in the power of the tongue then we need to be very cautious about what we say because what we utter can cause death or give life!!
So the key is to pause and think before we say anything.
Pro. 21:23,
“Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut and you will stay out of trouble”
It’s my responsibility to guard my mouth; it’s my responsibility to restrain my lips. Words can be medicine and words can be poison to people’s lives.
YOUR WORDS CAN TRANSFORM LIVES
How many people are made dysfunctional and emotionally crippled and even resort to suicides because of one careless word used upon them at some point in their life? You know what? We are the highest form of God’s creation with unique qualities of deep emotions beyond the human ability to comprehend. Unfortunately, many of us have taken it lightly and have not placed the appropriate value to it. Our emotions are profoundly influenced by the statement of words spoken upon us and it leaves a scar and causes a deep injury in many people and they carry it throughout their lives.
It is about time that we realize that every sound we utter, every word we think or speak sends out a powerful lethal wave that can either improve or destroy a life and our relationships with others.
In fact our wellbeing in life including our health and healing, and our own self-esteem are tremendously affected by what we say and think even about our own selves. It is therefore imperative to be very sensitive to what you say or think of yourself. Every cell and organ of your body is totally receptive and sensitive in relation to what kind of climate you can create, by the way you think about yourself.
Prov.23:7
“As a man thinketh in his heart so is he.”
Matthew 12:36-37
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Note: Rev Dr Jai Kumar is an ordained & licensed minister of Covenant Ministries International N.J. USA. He is also the representative of Faith International Bible School for Malaysia & Singapore. He is the founder and senior pastor of Full Gospel Outreach Ministry KL. A member of ECCM (Malaysia) Spiritual Adviser & overseer to various ministries and churches. An itinerant speaker with a passion for missions. He is also the author of a book entitled, ‘God’s Time Clock.’
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