Taming your tongue will improve your relationships and your life. – By Pastor George Lehman
If we don’t do whatever it takes to build great relationships our whole ministry and testimony becomes useless and ineffective.
John 13:35(NIV) – “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
“Watch lest your negativity begins to destroy your positivity.”
One moment your so positive and the next you can’t actually believe it’s you!
The positive tongue.
We need to train our tongues – forming good habits so that what comes out of our mouths will be:
Positive – Honestly what comes out of your mouth predominately?
Up-lifting – Do you more easily breakdown?
Up-building – Do you motivate others to grow spiritually?
Encouraging – Do your words cause people to carry on?
Exhorting – Strongly urging people to push forward.
Inspiring – Do you always have a scripture to inspire people?
A blessing – Do you most easily bless people?
Proverbs 22:11 (Amp) – He who loves purity and the pure in heart and who is gracious in speech – because of the grace of his lips will he have the King for his friend.
We really need to tame our tongues in the area of our confession.
Matthew 12:34b (NIV) – … for out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
Psalm 12:3-4 (NIV) – 3May the Lord cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue 4that says, “We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips – who is our master?”
The word of God conceived in the human spirit, formed by the tongue, and spoken out of the mouth will become a creative power that will work for you. (The opposite will work against you.)
Our tongues should always rise to the level of the Word of God.
As Christians we should be known as people who speak positively – speaking the Word of God into every situation.
How easily we fall into this negative tongue!
The power of our words.
A careless word may kindle strife.
A cruel word may wreck a life.
A bitter word may hate instil.
A brutal word may smite & kill.
BUT
A gracious word may smooth the way.
A joyous word may light the day.
A timely word may lessen stress.
A loving word may heal and bless.
Proverbs 22:11 (Amp) – He who loves purity and the pure in heart and who is gracious in speech – because of the grace of his lips will he have the King for his friend.
Contrary to what we’ve heard: “Talk is not cheap”. Talk is very expensive.
Our words are powerful.
What we say affects what we get from others and what others get from us. What we hand out either comes to bite us or bless us.
How much more loving, kind, and peaceful our relationships will be if we just tamed our tongue.
A list of POSITIVE ways to train your tongue each day – if you make these a habit in your life, you & others will see an awesome life change!
Pray
Share your faith
Express gratitude
Tell the truth
Admit a mistake
Confess your faults or weaknesses
Comfort someone who is hurting
Give a sincere compliment
Pledge your support and carry it through
Defend someone against negative criticism
Discourage gossip
Express appreciation
Express hope or enthusiasm
Encourage someone to persevere
Express concern for another
Speak of God’s goodness
A positive tongue is a sure sign of true spiritual growth and maturity.
James 3:2 (Amp) – For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature.
Notice how the tongue controls character / our whole body.
It’s achievable if we will just be teachable.
Our ultimate aim is:
1 Peter 2:21-22 (Amp) – 21For even to this were you called [it is inseparable from your vocation]. For Christ also suffered for you, leaving you [His personal] example, so that you should follow in His footsteps. 22He was guilty of no sin, neither was deceit (guile) ever found on His lips. (He paved the way for us!)
It’s possible if we will stop being careless.
Make a godly decision for your life to speak positively.
Maybe you have held onto your weakness and failures for far too long because of having an untamed, negative tongue.
Now! Decide – make the choice to change – because you can.
God’s message to you today:
Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (God wants to help you)
Ephesians 3:20 (Amp) – Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]
God wants you to trust Him.
Do you trust God enough to help you to tame your tongue?
His strength is just waiting for your positive confession.
