Sounds simple, right? Guard your mouth and you’ll be in good shape. It might sound simple, but it’s also one of the most difficult things to do. According to James, it’s one thing to train a wild animal, and it’s another thing to train your tongue.

The Lord Jesus spoke of our words as being very much a heart issue. Words of impatience and anger come from an impatient and angry heart. A sinful statement, spoken to get a laugh or gain attention, is spoken from a heart that is serving self, rather than God. And, thoughtless words and statements that just come out, may be from a heart that isn’t developed enough in self-control and wisdom. Cutting speech about others is spoken from a heart that doesn’t love one’s neighbor as one’s self.

That is the negative. Positively, our words can do great good. A kind, cheerful greeting and exchange of pleasantries with your bank teller; a word of love to a struggling brother or sister; a word of wisdom to an inquiring soul can have significant impact.