Hello, Beloved Reader! I’m Faith. Thanks for visiting me today.

“My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.” — Job 27:4

“Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.” — Psalm 34:13

“I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.” — Psalm 39:1

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” — Proverbs 18:21

“Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.” — Proverbs 21:23

And now go ahead and check out James 3:1-12.

We as humans have this little thing that lives in our mouths called a tongue. And the tongue is a strange little fellow. He lacks the hard strength of bones, but is mighty enough to slay a giant. He is nothing but muscle and mischief if allowed free will, becoming more fierce and skilled with use. His sharp words will cut like a dagger, and his sounds pierce like an arrow through the heart. He will speak the true nature of man’s heart, whether he be foolish or wise. And he can kindle great fires and destruction in his path. The power of the tongue can bring death.

The tongue can yield words of goodness. Kindness can flow from its syllables. It can build up and encourage a person. It can bring about great speeches and words from God that prick the hearts of many and strike them with wonder at the glory of the Lord. The power of the tongue can bring life.

But there is something we have to remember: No fountain can yield both sweet and bitter water.

How can we bless God and then curse men? How can we speak good of God, yet break our brothers with our words? Have you ever heard the saying, “Silence is golden?” In all honesty, if people were silent more often, the world would be a better place. So many things are said that shouldn’t be, and they start little strivings that turn into huge ordeals, when in the first place if a kind word were spoken it would all have gone a different way. We can say something bad and then something good, but the bad will corrupt the good and make it all bad. It’s kind of like a sweet vanilla ice cream that has a roach in the middle, or a plate of roaches with ice cream on top. See the roaches are nasty, and it doesn’t matter how good the ice cream is, you’re not going to eat it because of the bugs. At least, I wouldn’t.

We are all human. There will be times where we mess up. We will say something we aren’t supposed to and then it snowballs into a mass of chaos.

So, here’s a challenge for you:

The Bible says to be quick to hear and slow to speak. I challenge you to listen. Get all the facts. Learn about the whole situation by observing and STAYING SILENT. Then, think, but don’t trust in your own understanding. Ask the Lord for help. Take your situation to Him and He can tell you what to say. Then, speak, and see how it goes for you.

—Faith Cross