Our tongue can negatively affect those around us including our spouse, our children, family and friends "for with it we can curse people who are made in the image of God and from the same mouth we can also bless which should not be so".. (James 3:10)
(James 3: 5-6 )says that "the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!" And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell."
The bible tells us that the tongue is a restless evil full of deadly poison. (James 3:8) When speaking to the Pharisees, Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. (Matt 13:34.)For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. (Matt 15:19.)
The tongue is like a fountain and from out of it, flows the condition of ones heart.
I had a recent discussion with a member who had difficulty with not being able to have a normal conversation without cussing. I use to have this problem as a young person and basically new to the church body until a sister mentioned that every second word I said was a cuss word. I did not realize this until she mentioned it and it struck me like a full on revelation. I am grateful to this sister today as I would not have realized it's effect on others or my testiiimony as a new adherent.
God was showing me that it was not appropriate in his environment or any environment as a believer. Suddenly there appeared to be a quickening in my spirit before speaking anything out loud and I began to change my words.
You do not need to cuss to string a sentence together, you just need to be aware of who you are and who you represent.
After a while, your mouth will train it'self with the help and conviction of the Holy Spirit and eventually those cuss words will disappear from your vocabulary. As a matter of fact, it will begin to sound uncomfortable to your ears when others speak that way too.
The outworking of changing the way you speak will not only affect your walk with God but also those who once knew you. It creates a chain reaction that has had many positive benefits for your old friends and new ones along your path. Glory!
Angelina 10/10/24
