Taming the Tongue

 I have found that my tongue is definitely not tamed when I am in my moments (very long moments right now) of stress.  I say things I shouldn't say.  I say things I don't even always mean.  I can just be really mean and irritable in my speak.  And this especially happens to the hubby since he is the one always around me and always picking on me when I try to study.  Even if he is annoying me though, my words to him should not be how I have been speaking.  I have to control my tongue and control my thoughts that bring forth that speak.  Think before I speak and not just react. 

James tells us in James 3 that if someone can control his tongue and does not stumble in what he says, then he is a perfect man.  Obviously no one is perfect, so no one can completely control his tongue.  This just shows how difficult this task is for us, because if we could master it 100% we would be perfect - which will never happen.  So why even try to if it will never happen?

Because we want to glorify God in everything we do.  Because we don't want to hurt those around us that we love.  Because we don't want to be an inconsistency like James talks about in verese 9 and 12.  How can we speak such wonderful things and praise God and encourage others with our speech, but then also curse God and say terrible things to others and bring others' spirits down.  It is a complete inconsistency.  And we are one of the only creatures that are so inconsistent it seems.  James states how a spring can't bring forth both fresh and salt water.  And a fig tree cannot bring forth olives and figs and a grapevine cannot bring forth grapes and figs.  Everything created in nature has one thing it produces, yet our mouths produce all kinds of speech - both good and bad.  We are complete inconsistencies.

So this is my apologize to those I have hurt with my speech especially in my stressful moments the past couple weeks, especially to my hubby.  And this is my new goal to try to live consistently with my speech - trying to produce only the good and not the bad.

"1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 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.7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water."