James 3:8 No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
“Taming the tongue” is a process of “training our tongue” to speak God’s thoughts about us. “If you have nothing nice to say, Don’t say anything at all”. The most difficult project in this world is to train the tongue and bring in under the subjection, jurisdiction and conviction of the Word of God. Taming the tongue is “training the tongue” to be silent when patience is tested; to speak justice when mistreated and to confess the promises when faith is debilitated. Taming the tongue is training it to become the voice box of Christ Jesus.
When Joshua and the Israelites were standing before the lofty fortified walls of Jericho, Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout.” (Joshua 6:10). Joshua put a zip on the lips of the ungrateful complaining generation for six days and commanded them to march in silence. If he had allowed them to chat, they would have crumbled down the promises of God with their unbelief, doubt and suspicion. On the seventh day, they shouted praise and the walls came tumbling down.
Three tips to train the tongue to align with God’s will and His Word:
1. Subjection: We must train our tongue to stop blurting out everything that drops into our mind. If this sound impossible, go on a “silent fast” for a day. Fast from social media, phones, chatters, parties or entertainment and remain silent before the Lord. Ecclesiastes 5:2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. Physical fasting will bring our mind and thoughts under the subjection and obedience of the Holy Spirit.
2. Jurisdiction: We must train our tongue to speak within the jurisdiction of God’s Word. The measure of our integrity is weighed by the truth of God’s word and not by the facts that we prove. Facts could be fabricated but the principles of God’s Word will remain steadfast forever. Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. We must never be swayed by emotions or relations and justify what is outside the jurisdiction of God’s law as “good”. When a close friend stumbles, do not justify evil as good. Our measuring stick for good and evil is hidden in the scriptures and not in our sentiments.
3. Confession: We must train our tongue to make positive confession of the promises of God, even when our problem looks insurmountable, the task looks impossible and the situation is impermeable. Never open your mouth to utter words of disbelief. Silence is better than slander; quietness is better than quarrel. Many shoot down the promises of God with their own words of disbelief, doubt and distrust. Stop questioning the promises and start confessing His Word.
We must “train the tongue” and keep it under strict subjection, stringent jurisdiction and constant confession of the truth and promises of God.
Jeremiah 9:8 Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully; with his mouth each speaks peace to his neighbour, but in his heart he plans an ambush for him.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach me to train my tongue to be subjected to your Word, to keep it under the jurisdiction of your Word and to walk in complete confidence confessing the promises from your Word, even when the walls of impossibilities startle me. Amen
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