The Bible provides guidance on how to control our tongues and use our words in a way that pleases God and blesses others. Here are some key principles that can help us in this area:
1. Dedicate your heart, mind, and tongue to the Lord, daily: Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” When we surrender our lives to God and seek His guidance, He can help us control our tongues and use our words for His glory.
2. Seek holistic purity: Jesus teaches in Matthew 15:11 that it’s not what goes into our mouths that defiles us, but what comes out of our mouths. This reminds us that we need to guard our hearts and minds, as the words we speak reflect what is in our hearts. By focusing on purity in our thoughts and intentions, we can speak words that are pleasing to God.
3. Pray for awareness of our words: Psalm 141:3 says, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” We can ask God to help us become more conscious and aware of the words we speak. Through prayer, we can invite the Holy Spirit to convict us when our words are unkind, negative, or hurtful.
4. Surrender the “right” to complain: Complaining and grumbling are common temptations, but the Bible encourages us to resist them. Philippians 2:14-15 says, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation.” By surrendering our right to complain, we can choose to speak words of gratitude and contentment instead.
5. Ask for forgiveness: When we realize that our words have been unloving, hurtful, or damaging, it’s important to seek forgiveness from both God and the person we have wronged. 1 John 1:9 reminds us that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This includes the unkind words we may have spoken.
6. Practice encouraging and edifying speech: Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” We can intentionally choose to speak words that encourage, comfort, edify, and inspire others. By practicing this kind of speech, we can become a source of blessing to those around us.
Controlling our tongues is a lifelong process that requires daily surrender to God and intentional effort. As we seek to align our words with God’s truth and love, we can experience the transformation of our speech and bring glory to Him.