I've been having a lot of time alone lately and it has allowed me to study more and ask my husband questions about things I don't understand (which the Bible instructs wives to do!). I realized in my time alone, how many idle words I had spoken when in conversation with others......to just fill the space of small talk. Then when I next had interaction with someone after spending time praying a guard about my tongue.....I have found that I'm more cautious of my words and my ears! It has yielded the effect I had hoped for.....carefulness.
Here is a great quote from Charles Spurgeon on the topic:
Don’t be the Devil’s bellows any longer to blow up the fires of strife. Leave off setting people by the ears. If you do not cut off a bit of your tongues, at least season them with the salt of grace. Praise God more and blame neighbors less. Any goose can cackle; any fly can find out a sore place; any empty barrel can give forth sound; any brier can tear a man’s flesh. No flies will go down your throat if you keep your mouth shut and no evil speaking will come up. Think much, but say little; be quick at work and slow at talk; and above all, ask the great Lord to set a watch over your lips.This is what I did.......I asked the Lord to set a watch upon my lips and a guard on my tongue. It had occurred to me some months ago, that I wasn't taking much consideration for my words. Words can do a great deal of damage to others and they can also do a great deal of good.
However, I had not been praying over my conversations with others and found myself in a distressed state. I had let others tell me things about others......gossip! I had thought to myself, well I can't correct them I'm not their pastor....BUT when it causes me to sin by mere listening (see this article) then I must withdraw myself from the conversation because I will not be a partaker in another person's sin! (1 Timothy 5:22)
Also, being around those type of people who have nothing better to do than talk about others and how bad they are......I came to the realization that their evil ways were rubbing off on me because I began to look at others in disdain! You just can't have fellowship with those that continue in sin, especially gossip. Once you withdraw yourself from their company, you will soon find that YOU will be the topic they choose to speak evil about to others. The tongue is EVIL.
Do you have complete control of your tongue?? I will be the first to say that I know I did not and I have taken steps to ensure a guard about my tongue.
If the picture is too small for you to read, here are the verses:James 3:4-6
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
