O be careful little mouth what you say,
O be careful little mouth what you say,
For there’s a Father up above,
Looking down in tender love,
So, be careful little mouth what you say.

If I were to ask how many of you have heard this children’s song, most would say yes, once or twice, in Sunday school or at Vacation Bible School. Even though this song was written for children, I think adults should wake up singing it every morning, then at lunch time, and then maybe on the way home from work.

In our classroom hangs a poster with these words, “before you speak, THINK, T-is it true?, H-is it helpful?, I-is it inspiring?, N-is it necessary?, K-is it kind?” This poster isn’t just for our kids, but it’s also for me.

James 3:2-10, paints us a great picture of the power that’s in our tongue, “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. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 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. 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! 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. …”

Did you know there are over 130 verses in the Bible about taming the tongue. We are given warning after warning through these verses, but yet we ignore His word and speak from our harsh and unrighteous emotions. Below I listed a few Bible verses that speak on taming the tongue, I encourage you to write them down in a journal or in the back of your Bible. Spend time daily looking over the verses and memorizing them, then make a conscious decision to T-H-I-N-K before you speak.

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” ~Proverbs 15:1

“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.” ~Ephesians 4:29

“There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” ~Proverbs 12:8

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” ~James 1:26

“Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” ~Proverbs 21:23

“From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” ~James 3:10

“It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” ~Matthew 15:11

“Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.” ~Psalm 52:2

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” ~Proverbs 18:21

My daughter, Victoria (6 years-old), recently went to a girl at church and said she was sorry for something mean the little girl said to her last week. Yes, that’s right, Victoria did nothing wrong, but wanted to start out her conversation by saying sorry, in hopes something good would come out of it. Victoria then asked, “can we be friends?” The girl replied back, “no, I already have friends.” Victoria, then said, “you can never have too many friends!” This story pierced my heart, hearing that someone was mean to my little girl angered me, but at the same time I was so proud of Victoria for choosing her words wisely and not retaliating with hurtful ones.

Dear Lord, help our words to be full of grace, mercy, and love. Let us be slow to speak and quick to think about how our words can bring life or death. Help us to speak with wisdom and not with our emotions. In Jesus name Amen!

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. ~Colossians 4:6

“Speak Life”
by Toby Mac

Some days, life feels perfect.
Other days it just ain’t workin.
The good, the bad, the right, the wrong
And everything in between.

Though it’s crazy, amazing
We can turn a heart with the words we say.
Mountains crumble with every syllable.
Hope can live or die

So speak Life, speak Life.
To the deadest darkest night.
Speak life, speak Life.
When the sun won’t shine and you don’t know why.
Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted;
Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope,
You speak love, you speak…
You speak Life, You speak Life. 

Some days the tongue gets twisted;
Other days my thoughts just fall apart.
I do, I don’t, I will, I won’t,
It’s like I’m drowning in the deep.

Well it’s crazy to imagine,
Words from our lips as the arms of compassion,
Mountains crumble with every syllable.
Hope can live or die.

So speak Life, speak Life.
To the deadest darkest night.
Speak life, speak Life.
When the sun won’t shine and you don’t know why.
Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted;
Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope,
You speak love, you speak…
You speak Life, You speak Life. 

Lift your head a little higher,
Spread the love like fire,
Hope will fall like rain,
When you speak life with the words you say.

Raise your thoughts a little higher,
Use your words to inspire,
Joy will fall like rain,
When you speak life with the things you say.

Lift your head a little higher,
Spread the love like fire,
Hope will fall like rain,
When you speak life with the words you say.

So speak Life, speak Life.
To the deadest darkest night.
Speak life, speak Life.
When the sun won’t shine and you don’t know why.
Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted;
Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope,
You speak love, you speak…
You speak Life, You speak Life.
You speak Life, You speak Life.
Some days life feels perfect.

If you want to watch the music video to “Speak Life”, click here.