Why you need to be careful what you say

“For, Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech...Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen...

Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin...Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity...

Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues...The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit...The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly...

Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble...The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.”

1 Peter 3:10; Ephesians 4:29; Proverbs 13:3, 21:23, 10:19, 15:4, 17:27-28, 15:1-2, 12:13,18-19

With every word you utter, think first.

Examine your motives.

Determine the impact.

If you aren’t building up, being kind, even-tempered, truthful in love - choose silence. If your words do not improve the silence, then don’t share and instead pray for the “mind of Christ”. 1 Corinthians 2:16

“Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips...May my lips overflow with praise for You teach me Your decrees. May my tongue sing of Your word, for all Your commands are righteous.

Indeed, may Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts... And, may these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 141:3,119:171-173,19:14

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires... Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone...

What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them... The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom and their tongues speak what is just. The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip.”

James 1:19-20; Colossians 4:6; Matthew 15:11; Psalm 37:30-31

Day One: Experience
 Read the entire devotion. Do any verses stand out to you? If so, write it down and work on memorizing it over the week. I personally love the app “Scripture Typer.”

Day Two: Observe & Read
 Chain. Look up and chain verses (For example on how to chain verses, see this video).

Day Three: Interpret
 Read through the chain of verses starting with the first one. What do they say? Do you notice when it says “never” or “always” or “If, but, however, therefore, all…..”

Day Four: Application
 Do “Your turn” and make a list of people that God has put on your heart when you read this.

Day Five: Testify
 Who in your life, right now, can you share this with? There is somebody in your life that needs to hear this. Close your eyes. What name came to mind?