What steps help avoid the "perverse tongue" mentioned in Proverbs 10:31? Foundational Truth from Proverbs 10:31 “The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.” God draws a sharp line: righteous speech nourishes, but twisted words invite judgment. Avoiding a perverse tongue is not optional; it is a matter of obedience and spiritual health. Understand Where Words Come From • Matthew 12:34 – “For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” • Luke 6:45 – Whatever fills the heart will inevitably spill from the lips. Therefore, dealing with the tongue begins by addressing the heart. Step 1 – Saturate the Heart with Scripture • Read, meditate, and memorize—Psalm 119:11. • Let truth replace lies and bitterness; wisdom then naturally emerges in conversation. Step 2 – Guard Inner Thoughts • Proverbs 4:23 – “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.” • Reject cynical, mocking, or angry thoughts as soon as they appear. Step 3 – Slow Down and Listen First • James 1:19 – “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” • A paused tongue prevents words spoken in haste from becoming words regretted later. Step 4 – Submit Every Word to a Three-Part Filter Before speaking, ask: 1. Is it true? (Ephesians 4:25) 2. Is it loving? (Ephesians 4:15) 3. Is it necessary and edifying? (Ephesians 4:29) Step 5 – Replace Corrupt Talk with Edifying Speech • Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up…” • Proverbs 15:1 – A gentle answer turns away wrath; choose tone as carefully as content. • Colossians 4:6 – Season words with grace; aim to refresh, not scorch. Step 6 – Seek Accountability • Proverbs 13:20 – Walking with the wise guards the tongue. • Invite trusted believers to point out careless, sarcastic, or venomous speech patterns. Step 7 – Rely on the Holy Spirit’s Power • Galatians 5:16 – Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. • The Spirit produces self-control (Galatians 5:23), the essential restraint against verbal sin. Step 8 – Pray Continually for a Guarded Mouth • Psalm 141:3 – “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.” • Humbly request divine help every day; self-effort alone cannot tame the tongue (James 3:8). Step 9 – Practice Confession and Restoration Quickly • When a perverse word slips, confess immediately to God (1 John 1:9) and to any person harmed. • Quick repentance keeps the heart tender and the tongue teachable. Step 10 – Cultivate Habits of Praise and Thanksgiving • Psalm 34:1 – Keep praise continually on the lips; gratitude leaves little room for perverse talk. • Philippians 4:8 – Filling the mind with what is excellent and praiseworthy redirects speech toward the same. Living It Out A righteous mouth is not an accident; it is the result of conscious, Spirit-empowered choices. By guarding the heart, filtering every word, and leaning on God’s ongoing grace, believers can consistently avoid the perverse tongue and instead “bring forth wisdom” that honors the Lord and blesses others. |
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