Tongue Series Part 7: Conclusion God Can Help You Control Your Tongue

Wow, well this was by far a really fun series to write and I definitely learned a thing or two.  All the words that you all read came from the words of God. It was straight from God's leading to my mind and heart that eventually wounded up on this blog! :) I definitely don't take any of the credit! I asked God to use me, and He does! Today, I am going to share some really interesting thoughts from some people who had a desire to change their tongues.

PG: In college after my salvation I had an issue with profanity. At some point I was challenged by preaching and teaching by spiritual mentors. I began a daily worship time. When I began to do this on a daily basis my profanity issue suddenly disappeared. It took me 3 years. 

NM: I think one of the many things that I learned from Moody Bible Institute is that when we talk about tongues, we are talking about what goes on in our mind but what is in our heart. Back then, I thought that if I controlled my mind and easily censored myself from saying things that are not seemly of a Christian, then that is how I bridle my tongue, according to James. However, the passage before it talks about faith and deeds. Our words are also our deed, and if we do not have faith, these deeds are dead and vice versa. If we don't have the sanctifying work of Christ in us, then no matter how much we control ourselves to not say something inappropriate, it will come out in some way, verbal or non-verbal, because the work of transforming our hearts has not been done.

A.S:  Personally I view the bible in saying we should be very careful with your words. We are to use our words to bless and encourage people. I do swear, because my culture does and I view that as sort of neither good nor bad, just depending on how you use it. I have learned to be very purposeful with my words and use them to help people throughout the day

SE:  I started late when it came to swearing. Unlike most of my friends who started saying bad words by 5th grade,  I was always reluctant because of fear.  I feared my parents and I feared God. In due time though, I made up for it. I started to get the hang of cussing by my junior year of high school and by my second year out of high school, I was a natural sailor. It wasn't until I got married when started to slow it down; after all swearing isn't lady like and my relationship with God was on the up and up. Sounds great right?! Well, I ruined that.  I started working at a car dealership,  and bam! -I was one of the guys. My tongue was out of control. When I lost my job, it was even worse and it stayed that way for a long time. My tongue is no where close to being as  innocent as when I was a child, but I've come along way from being a sailor. It wasn't until my husband confronted me about how my tongue was effecting those around me including my self. How can I talk to God with the same mouth that curses. My tongue reflects me inside and out. I now pray about what not to say before I speak.  I'm not perfect but I am a Christian and I need to be conscious of my words becauseif I am to say I am a Christian I need not speak like a spokeswoman for Satan.

MP: I do swear here and there and been praying to help control it and I feel like it has helped.. When being in the army cursing is normal and expected, so since getting out it was hard to change that.. But the hardest was to stop saying oh my God.. After praying hard on saying that it became extremely easy to stop saying oh my God because those words together started to sound so stupid coming out of my mouth. I hated it. I hated hearing it and I hated knowing people heard it coming out of my mouth. But now I don't say it and it's not hard and I think it's bc God had showed me how stupid and wrong it was to say it.

ND: When I was deeply involved with a radical movement that sought to bring down the Marcos regime, I took on the foul language of my "comrades". It was like second nature to me. I spouted out profanity. I liked sharing and listening to off-color jokes. A few years later, I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and one of the first things He changed was my tongue. I developed an aversion to filthy speech. I developed the habit of carefully weighing my words before they came out of my mouth. Now I use my tongue to edify people and to help them move forward in their walk with Jesus Christ.

******. Wow, thank you all so much for your thoughts. I am beyond encouraged and hope everyone who reads this will also feel blessed!  :) Wow, I guess my thoughts on swearing is that I feel pretty lousy when I swear, but sometimes I can't help it. As soon as the swear leaves my mouth I can feel the spirit inside of me get sad. :( I ask God for forgiveness and I know I am forgiven! When people swear at me, it hurts and they know it hurts me.  But, I was given the most helpful advice from a more mature Christian that I wanted to share.  Well, when someone swears at us and we don't want to hear it, I know that He wants us to, I believe, just remain silent because it says in His word that a gentle word turns away wrath. So, on some days I remain silent, on some days. On other days my response is not silent, and the advice I was given was to leave my presence, pray for me, and close the door.  The last words that I will hear will be the hurt that came from my voice.  That friends, was some great advice!   When, people swear around me, who am I to say stop?  Remember I may hate the sin but I still love the sinner!  I hope that's how people feel about me. :) 

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (‭Proverbs‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬ NIV)