How can we guard against "tongues as sharp as a serpent's" in daily life? Verse of Focus “They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is under their lips.” (Psalm 140:3) Why God Warns Us about the Tongue • Words flow straight from the heart (Matthew 12:34). • A single sentence can wound as deeply as a physical blow (Proverbs 12:18). • Satan used words to deceive in Eden (Genesis 3:1-5); the same strategy persists. Guarding Our Own Tongue from Becoming Serpentine • Invite divine surveillance: “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth” (Psalm 141:3). • Stay slow to speak: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger” (James 1:19). • Filter every word through Ephesians 4:29: – Is it wholesome? – Will it build up? – Is it timely? • Refuse participation in gossip or slander (Proverbs 20:19). • Practice deliberate silence when emotions surge (Proverbs 17:27-28). • Choose vocabulary of grace: “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6). • Memorize Scripture; what fills the heart steers the tongue (Psalm 119:11). Protecting Our Hearts from the Venom of Others • Expect opposition; Psalm 140 portrays it as normal for the righteous. • Discern motives without adopting their methods (Romans 12:17-21). • Keep soft answers ready: “A gentle answer turns away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1). • Establish healthy boundaries; step away when speech grows toxic (Proverbs 22:24-25). • Hand the hurt to the Lord; He is “the shield of my salvation” (Psalm 140:7). Daily Disciplines that Keep the Guard in Place 1. Morning commitment: dedicate your mouth to God before the day begins. 2. Mid-day check-in: ask, “Have my words honored Christ since breakfast?” 3. Evening review with Scripture and confession (1 John 1:9). 4. Accountability—invite a trusted believer to correct unwholesome talk. 5. Continual gratitude: thankful hearts seldom produce poisonous speech (Colossians 3:15). Verses to Keep Close • Proverbs 13:3 — “He who guards his mouth protects his life…” • Proverbs 18:21 — “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” • James 3:8 — “No man can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” • Psalm 19:14 — “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD…” Living by these truths places an active guard over our lips and shields our hearts from the serpent-sharp tongues around us, letting Christ’s character shine through everyday conversation. |
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