JOTS FROM OLD JAKE
TRAINING THE TONGUE:
Monday, Jul. 16, 2007 - 1:29 p.m.
It is important for us to train our tongue because of the effects of the tongue on our future and the future of others around us. The book of Proverbs gives us lots of wisdom about what to say and what not to say. What to say is just as important as what not to say! I do say that without humbling either position.
Luke 6:45 (KJV) A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Steps to train your heart� err, tongue:
Step 1:
Tell your tongue to be joyful. Say, Praise the Lord He is still working on me!� James 1:2-12 (KJV) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;� Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Step 2:
Tell your tongue to speak patiently. Say, �My goal is to give my subjects all they need for their maturity or growth!� James 1:3-4 KJV) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Step 3:
Tell your tongue to pray for wisdom. Say, �I need wisdom!� James 1:5 (KJV) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Step 4:
Tell your tongue to ask in faith, believing. Say, �I trust God, He is working all things together for good!� Romans 8:28 (KJV) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. �I turst God to give me the wisdom I need for all things!� James 1:6-8 (KJV) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Step 5:
Tell your tongue to ask in hope. Say, �God promises that there are better things to come!� James 1:9-11 (KJV) Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
Step 6:
Tell your tongue to rejoice and be thankful. Say, �With God�s help I�m not giving up!� and �Thank you God for giving me rewards!� James 1:12 (KJV) Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Step 7:
Tell your tongue to be loving. Say, �I love you Heavenly Father! I love you Jesus!� Psalms 106:1 KJV) Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Step 8:
Tell your tongue to stop complaining. Say, �Everything God does is good. I�m the sinner!� James 1:13-15 (KJV) Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Step 9:
Tell your tongue not to be deceived. Say, �I can count on God to be good to us always!� James 1:16-18 (KJV) Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from
the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Step 10:
Tell your tongue to be quiet. Say, �Be slow to speak, so that my ears will be able to be wswift to hear, and that I will be slow to wrath!� James 1:19-20 (KJV) Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Last but not least step:
Tell your tongue to speak clean words and truthful words. Say, �I want every word out of my mouth to be clean and truthful to the edifying of the body of Christ!� James 1:21-22 (KJV) Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. AND! 1 John 1:6-10 (KJV) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Say, �Thank you Father for forgiving me!�
The main point in training your tongue is to purpose in your heart to be right before God. Matthew 12:34 (KJV) � for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Verses for today:
James 1:23-27 (KJV) For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Ulterior thought:
Wisdom in using our tongue is like playing poker! �You need to know when to hold-em, know when to fold-em, and know when to walk away, and know when to run!� �Always count your blessings when all the dealing�s done!�
May You Be Blessed by the Holy Spirit to Overflowing!
Bye for Now!
