I recently got upset over something that someone had done. What they did negatively effected me, and, my family. But, for fear of robbing God of glory, I chose not to confront them. This wasn’t some sort of catastrophic issue. It wasn’t a life or death matter. In fact it was something that I am sure the Lord will work out for this person’s good and for God’s own glory (because that is who our Heavenly Father is : ).

So, rather than act, I took a little time to breathe deep and pray for the ability to show grace. But, before I could (as a defense mechanism) the person began to speak to others about me, in an attempt to prevent themselves from being at fault. Initially I became even more angry then I had been. But then…as I began to desire what God wanted, I became deeply saddened. Finally, God just allowed me to remember that I am to forgive the way that He does. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32.

I have absolutely forgiven this person, but honestly, I am not sure that our relationship will be the same. I now doubt the closeness of our relationship. And, I doubt that our relationship was ever as close as I though. I thought that this person knew me better than they apparently did. And, I thought that (if something went wrong) we could discuss it, rather than defend and go to others. I feel a little like I lost something that I guess I never really had. But I pray that God will heal our relationship and make it stronger than ever.

The scripture tells us that the power of life and death lies in the tongue. “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences” Proverbs 18:21.

That life or death, that this verse speaks of, can even be in the form of others reputations. We can build up and we can destroy others, simply with the wagging of our tongue. But, destruction of others and their reputations is not what God calls us to. “You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord” Leviticus 19:16.

Our speech has the power to harm or heal. We can bring healing words to others. Words of comfort, forgiveness, understanding etc. Or, we can be arrogant, prideful and hurtful. And, we can find a weak spot in someone (and like a vicious animal) tear into it with our teeth, and speak anger and harsh words. “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” Proverbs 12:18.

Scripture tells to us that every creature God has ever created can be tamed. With the exception of the human tongue….”For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  The last part of verse 8 makes me think of a lion that is restless in a zoo. The lion paces back and forth and back and forth and back and forth. He waits to be unleashed. In the hopes of tearing into someone or something with incredible ferocity. James 3:7-8. That is a restless and unbridled tongue.

With our tongue we bless and praise our heavenly Father. Then, in the very next breath, we curse our neighbor, brother, sister, mother, who were all created in His image! “With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so” James 3:9-10.

Our tongues have all inflicted injuries. And, those injuries don’t always heal. Our words can cause wounds in the heart, mind and soul that only a miraculous healing from God can fix.

We will give an account before God….hear what I am saying to you….we will stand, looking into the very face of our God, Creator, Savior and Lover of Our Souls and give an account for every single careless word that escapes our lips. “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” Matthew 12:36. These include the words you spoke via text, social media, letter, or even those words you spoke in your heart and mind.

The tongue is POWERFUL! For both life, death, healing, destruction, building up and tearing down. But, the greatest power our tongue wields is when we use it to repent.

Remember the life part of the Proverbs 18:21 verse I shared with you? The word “life” in this verse does not just mean for healing or ministering or building up. That same tongue is how God brings about eternal life for us. It can be what He uses, when we submit to His authority and will, to bring about spiritual healing and reconciliation to Him.

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” Romans 10:9-10. When we confess our sins and acknowledge that Jesus is Lord, God is faithful and forgives our sin and provides us with eternal life in Heaven with Him!

Father God I pray that we would be mindful of how incredibly the enemy can use the reckless use of our tongue. I pray that we would have the ability, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to bridle that tongue and use it for your glory, honor and purposes.

We pray for healing where words have caused pain! Your supernatural healing! I pray that you would restore the relationship that I have spoken of and make it more glorious than it was before, not for me, but for your glorification. I pray for restored relationships of others, where words have left scars. Help us, Holy Spirit, to recognize that our tongues posses the powers of life and death. And, help us to use them to bring life. Please, let our conversations be seasoned with love. Be glorified.

Has someone hurt you with careless words? Have you hurt others with your own careless words? God can, and desires to, bring healing. He desires to forgive and to bring forgiveness. If you do not know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, I ask that you go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/). On this page you will find a simple prayer. Through this prayer God can and will forgive your sins, when you pray it with a sincere and desirous heart. And, once you’ve experienced God’s forgiveness, you will be able to forgive others! Please pray this prayer. And, once you have, let me know. I’d love to be in prayer with and for you.

Luv Ya!