Claudette's Blog

If there is one thing most people are good at, it is opening the mouth, whether they are feeding it, or "Putting a foot in it." (Humorously Speaking).
Either way, the Mouth is very small, but very mighty.

The Mouth plays an important role in our speech, it is part of our vocal apparatus, provides us with facial expressions, kissing, eating, drinking (especially with a straw), and breathing.
An Infant is born with a sucking reflex, by which they instinctively know to suck for nourishment using their lips and jaw.

But the Bible also tells us that the Mouth is a deadly weapon.

Jeremiah 9 : 8 NASB:

Their tongue is a deadly arrow; It speaks deceit; With his mouth one speaks peace to his neighbor, But inwardly he sets an ambush for him.

We can speak harsh words causing pain and dissention, or we can choose to open our Mouths and speak good things.
We are given the choice daily as to what we will say. The rule for my children has always been “Think before you speak, and when you speak, speak good things.” With children, this can be a challenge to teach, I have yet to master it, but I know it is getting better.

What I find even more challenging are the adults, however, as adults we are still God's children, and no matter our age, we still need to watch what we say, for it could come back on us.

James 31 : 12 New International Version has this to say about taming the Tongue:

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

One of the ways we can guide this muscle bound Anatomy, is by speaking good things, and use it daily to pray and praise our Lord. The Lord inhabits the praises of His people, and as we open our Mouths and give glory to Him, He helps us to speak Righteously.

Psalms 145 : 21 Darby Bible:

My mouth shall speak the praise of Jehovah; and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

Psalm 37 : 30 NAV:

The mouth of the righteous talketh of wisdom, And his tongue speaketh justice.

Make the right choice when opening the Mouth, allow it to be a portal of prayer and praise to the Lord, and not slander against others.

Blessings,

Claudette Moss