Tame the Tongue

Daily Devotions


7-19-11


"Tame the Tongue"
(Praise? or Curse?)


9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. (James 3:9-12)


Just as a salt spring that cannot produce fresh water, so a cursing tongue cannot praise God and build others. It is apparent that the water itself is salty and not fresh. A cursing tongue originates from a salty, and evil heart. Fresh water comes from a pure and peaceful heart. We need to determine what is going into our heart so that we have control of what comes out on our tongues.


I will continue to spend time with God to be more like him and have a heart like him. I will check my heart to make sure that what comes out is pure and peaceful and pleasing to God. Just like my tongue that can ruin lives, I can also use it to build people and build wonderful, God fearing lives.


Father God. Thank you so much for the gift of your presence. Thank you for today's passage. Please help me to surrender to you so that my heart can be pleasing to you. Help me to rule my tongue and to use it to build and not destroy. Amen.