“The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”
Proverbs 13:3 NASB
I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked.” (Or unbelievers)emphasis mine
Psalms 39:1 NIV
“The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”
Proverbs 18:21 NLT
Dear friends, how much of what we say every day is causing our lives to spin out of control? How much of what we’re saying is being used against us by the enemy of our souls? Jesus made this statement.
“The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.””
Matthew 12:37 NLT
Our lives are a reflection of our words. Does that shock you? If you’re a regular reader of your Bible you shouldn’t be. There’s a lot said about the mouth because that’s the only inroad that the enemy has to our lives, he listens to hear what we’re going to say about Jesus, ourselves, our family, our employer, our children, our spouses, our church, you name it. His plan of action or non action is tied to our confession. Your loose lips are sinking your life. Whatever you say you own. That’s why Jesus cautioned us to take no thought saying. We can’t control every thought but we can control every word that leaves our mouths.
If having whatsoever we say is true according to Mark 11:23-24, then it stands to reason that it’s true even for the negative things we say. Most of us speak so much doubt and unbelief that it’s become its own gospel in our lives. The Bible say we believe therefore we speak. That goes to the bad confessions as well. Have you ever said things like, “I get the flu every year” I always mess up” I never have enough money” you make me sick” I hate my job” I’m scared of the dark” I’ll never lose weight” I’ll never afford to” I’ll never get the promotion” we’ll never get a raise” I don’t need a lot just enough to get by” want me to keep going? Your loose lips are sinking your life. Listen to what James wrote to Christians.
“If a person thinks that he is religious but can’t control his tongue, he is fooling himself. That person’s religion is worthless.”James 1:26
In the same way that God hears and answers our words, that’s what prayer is, Satan also hears and answers our words. Death and life is in the power of our tongues (words) and we’re eating the fruits of what we have been confessing. Our words are declarations or pronouncements over our future. We mostly say what we believe. And God, true to His Word, cannot override our will to say what we want. But, He has given us faith filled promises to override the negative things we say out of our mouths. See Morning Messages “Flip It” November 3, 2021;
“You’ll Never Forget If” November 1, 2021.
Idle words should have no permanent place in the life of the child of God. Words that produce no lasting fruit would never be spoken from our lips if we’d stop and allow the answers of our tongues to be from the Lord. If we would allow Him to set a guard at the doors of our mouths. We’re destroying our lives with our own destructive words. We give the enemy ammunition to use against us. Jesus said we’d be judged by our words. Do you know that a record is being kept of what we’re saying, and that we will be called to give an accounting of those words? Words don’t disappear, they're seeds. They may not come to fruition immediately, but grow they will, and produce a harvest of blessings or ruination. Words are so powerful that God used them to create everything we’re looking at. I said we’d be called to give an account of what we have been saying. That’s downright scary!
“And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.”
Matthew 12:36 NLT
Jesus said those words. That’s how much our words matter; it goes into our eternal destiny. God knows the importance of words to our life and the lives of others. That’s why we’re told not to judge others with our words. Speck/plank analogy. Some children and now young adults are living the words of their parents. Words are designed by our Creator to produce. That law cannot change. What we say will be used for or against us. That’s why arresting officers caution people with those words. Words come back to bite us as they say. So what fruit are you currently eating that your words have produced? Bitter or sweet? Life or death? We teach our children to stop, look both ways before crossing the street. We need to take that approach with our mouths. It’s an intersection, we need to stop, reconsider, reassess our thoughts before proceeding.
Words should be used sparingly and with caution. Have you ever had the Holy Spirit say “don’t say that” if you do you’ll regret it. But Satan has you so fired up about whatever that you ignore the warning and before you know it the feathers are flying everywhere and you can’t take them back? Both my hands and feet are up. But God. I praise Him for His mercy. But the damage was done. We’re all guilty of that. Listen to the words of the apostle Paul in the scripture the Holy Spirit calls the more excellent way. At least that’s the way He illuminated it to me.
“When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. BUT when I grew up, I put away childish things.”
1 Corinthians 13:11 NLT emphasis mine
When I was a child…. but when I grew up. Those words are powerful! If our words are still sinking our lives, we have not grown into the stature of Christ. We’re supposed to be doing better today than yesterday. Change the way you think and you’ll change the way you speak. Change the way you speak and you’ll change your life. Words are the foundation and building materials for our life. Words don’t discriminate between the saved and unsaved. God has designed a system that allows for words to create. Eve wasn’t deceived by the fruit, she was deceived by words. We have been saved not by thoughts, but by our words.
“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”Romans 10:9-10 NKJV
Words. They give life or bring death. Take an inventory of your life. How much of what you have been saying are you living right now? There’s still time to change course. Place your hand over your heart, is it beating? Now put your other hand over your mouth and begin to reverse every negative thing you have been speaking over your life and your situation. Stop sinking your life and destroying your future. Words matter.
Pray..Father in the Name of Jesus I repent for using my tongue as a weapon against my life. The life you have given me through Your Son. I’m a believer not a doubter! I believe that words have consequences. So now I speak that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! Greater is He who is in me than he that is in the world. I’m the head and not the tail, above only and never beneath, I’m empowered to prosper spiritually, physically and financially in Jesus Name! I’m not a victim of my words but victorious over them. I take no thought saying things that will derail me, instead I speak those things that edify and build my faith. The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not lack any good thing! Goodness and mercy follows me everywhere I go! I will get the raise I’m due, because I’m a good worker, I do everything as unto the Lord, therefore the work of my hands are blessed. I’m favored of the Lord. He teaches my hands to profit. I will not fear! You will cause me to stand before kings. Like Daniel I have an excellent spirit, I’m trustworthy, my hands are clean, my motives are pure, because I have the Spirit of Christ in me! I’ll never harm others or myself with my words but instead I will speak life in Jesus Name. Thank You for your mercy and grace, set a guard over my mouth from this day forward in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. Amen 🙏
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”Psalms 19:14 NKJV
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
February 2, 2022