Over the years, I have written about the tongue’s power. It is dangerous and has destroyed many families. It has broken countless relationships. For some reason, in spite of the growth that has come to God’s people, the one thing that has been missing is the ability to control the tongue. I have seen people who are strong in the Lord and lose their witness by engaging in ungodly words. I, myself, must always be aware of my tongue. Let me be clear. It is not just using words of profanity, but words that demean another human being: dumb, stupid, and so forth. The scripture reference for this devotion that we have read on more than one occasion is James 3:4.

“And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong.”

James writes in this chapter of the need to control the tongue. He wants believers to be aware of its danger. In verse five, He indicates that the same way the tongue creates grand speeches. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. He indicates that in all parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. We are unable to tame it and cannot do it in the flesh. But rest assured, God will give us the strength we need to tame our tongues. True wisdom comes from God. Therefore, the same God who gives wisdom is the same God who can control the tongue. Prayerfully, God is working on your tongue and you are using it to glorify God and edify another brother or sister in Christ.