First, I want to thank you for sharing your thoughts on my “birthday” post. Your words as always are such an encouragement. The winner of a copy of my book, Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner, is Anonymous who posted on October 15th at 6:05 p.m. Congratulations!! Please e-mail me at spkrcoord@proverbs31.org and leave me your e-mail address and home address.
Every other Friday in Charlotte, I teach Living Truth Bible Study. We have over 80 amazing women who gather together to study God’s Word and enjoy great fellowship. This semester we are studying the Book of Proverbs, and this week we are studying our speech. WOW!!! What is that saying??? Be careful what you teach!!!
Is the Lord ever dealing with me on this subject. Guess He wants to be sure that I LIVE WHAT I TEACH. Below are some verses God used to convict my heart. Wanted to share them with you today and pray the Lord will use them to speak to yours as well.
Let your conversation always be full of grace. (Colossians 4:6)
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Proverbs 12:18)
When words are many, sin is not absent, but she who holds her tongue is wise. (Proverbs 10:19)
She who guards her mouth and her tongue keeps herself from calamity. (Proverbs 21:23)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue. (Proverbs 18:21)
Often, we spew forth words that erupt out of frustrated, hurt, angry, or disappointed hearts. We don’t think before we speak. Our emotions rule our tongue. At times, those words can be very destructive, and the hurt they cause difficult to take back. They pierce another’s soul to the very core.
God’s Word gives us guidance, direction, and warnings about our speech. Before we ever open our mouths, even in the heat of the moment, we need to check our words. We need to ask ourselves:
“Is this something I really need to say?”
“What is my motive in saying this?”
“Am I saying this to make a point, to get even, to hurt back, or to make myself feel better?”
“Are my words meant to hurt or to heal?”
“How will my words reflect my God and my walk and witness with Him?”
“Will my words draw someone closer to God or further away?”
“Will my words drive a wedge between us or bring us closer together?”
Friends, we must cultivate a habit of speaking that which is God-honoring and God-glorifying. It is not easy.
Solution:
Identify your tongue issue (critical, defensive, prideful, cutting, sarcastic)and prayerfully surrender it to the Lord.
Memorize a few Scriptures that get to the heart of your tongue issue.
Invite the Lord into your every conversation. Ask His Holy Spirit to convict you of your tongue.
Replace any harsh words that come to mind with one of your memory verses.
Celebrate when you overcome the temptation to speak harshly.
Humbly ask immediate forgiveness when you fail.
I read somewhere that Kay Arthur says to always consider:
What you say,
When you say it,
How you say it, and
To Whom you say it.
And, I would add, SHOULD you say it.
Here are a few more verses from Proverbs. If you have a few minutes during your quiet time, I encourage you to look them up.
Proverbs 10:11
Proverbs 15:1
Proverbs 16:24
Heavenly, Father, thank You for giving us the gift of Your Word. As we seek to honor and glorify You in our speech, please hide these verses from Your Word in our hearts. Father, through the power of Your Holy Spirit, teach and remind us of Your Truths. Convict our hearts, hold our tongues, put a guard at our mouths. May we be men and women who bring glory to you in every conversation…even in the most difficult of battles at home, at work, and at school. Humble our hearts; let our words be unifying and healing; enable us to be peace-makers. We ask all this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN
Sweet Blessings to You,
Wendy
Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner: The Transforming Power of God's Story 
All Things Wise and Wonderful: Applying God's Wisdom in Everyday Life (E-Book)
Thank you for todays' post! Awesome, posted on fb for others to read!
Found a good one on Biblegateway.com,
James 1:26
If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.
OUCH!
Wow thanks again Wendy for the reminder to watch what words come out of our mouth. You inspire and challenge, God bless you sister in Christ.
I think you just answered my question of what book I need to dig into! Thank you!
Those are powerful scriptures! Thanks for sharing such a convicting message! I appreciate how you lift up the Word of God and it's power to set us free and help us in areas such as this. I love His Word and it blesses me when I read your posts because I know you love it too and because you always point us to the scriptures! Thanks Wendy!
Oh, girl! I needed this. Again. God just convicted me the other day. I even had to repent to my mother. I was in such a mood, frustrated, stressed, stressed, and more stressed, and I said a word I never say. To me it's as bad as saying a curse word. She hadn't even realized I'd said it, but I knew… and God knew.
It shows me how fleshly I can be. Especially when I am stressed and I take my eyes off God. What scares me is that in Matthew it says 'For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.' The other day showed me where my heart was. You think the old nature is behind you in some things, but just one move and you see how closely it is lurking.
It's why we need to constantly be on guard.
Thank you, sister for this wonderful post. And thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving me such sweet words! They truly bless me every time.
Love in Christ,
Danielle
Hi Wendy, I about fell over when I visited you the first time on this post around 11pm. I had just finished a scheduled post on words also but of a different nature. My two year old took over the computer though, so I am back ha ha. I absolutely love that you give not only a great devotion here but ways to conquer it also. So many times I hear something that convicts me or gets me thinking but I am not quite sure how to process what I have heard. You always give a way to put into practice what you teach. I just love that about you. I always learn something in your posts or most certainly get reminded of things that I need to maintain in my life. Thank you once again for sharing your knowledge with us all.
Jenn
Hi, Wendy! Oh I love this post. So much truth and so much application. God has taught me so much about my heart and tongue over the last year especially. Mostly, it's best if I just "hush up and pray".
I want to honor Him with what I say and what I DON'T say. I don't want to say something under the guise of "speaking the truth in love" when I really am not. I don't want to lower the bar and call it grace.
Thank you for this! Love you, friend!
Oh – and I wish I lived closer so I could be #81!
Hi Wendy,
This is something I struggle with frequently! Thank you so much for speaking truth and for including Scripture verses. God Bless
Paula
What a beautiful post and blog. Many Blessings,
Wendy–this is JUST what I prayed about last night. I am impulsive–and unfortunately, my ugliest things can be said to my kids. I really got convicted yesterday. I woke up with a migraine, and wasn't feeling chipper at all. I just wanted to get everyone off to school and get back in bed. My youngest son, who, in spite of being a loving, sweet-natured boy, gets up most mornings on the grouchy side, and moves slowly. He was fussing about everything yesterday, and I lost it–and it broke my heart. I apologized to him over and over, I felt so bad. I know that I cannot be a good example for my kids if I continue losing my temper and saying awful things to them.
As I prayed last night, I asked the Lord to take my temper, my impatience and my language into his hands. This visual, of these things literally in the hands of God Almighty, will help me, I think. I will add your verses to it as well.
I want to be a better mother–a better example of Jesus to my children, if no one else.
Thanks for your help. God has really been speaking to me this week!
♥Susan
Hey! This is something that I needed today! Thank you! I always learn something and am reminded of what God needs me to hear when I visit! Love ya, Girl!!!
Hugs!
Susan–hope you all are doing well!
Hey again Wendy:)
Thanks for the message on my blog:) So encourage to me:) You are a true blessing. Hope to hear from you again so. God bless you and yours sister
LOL forgive the misspelling,tee hee