One Way to Keep Your Life from Troubles

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from troubles (Proverbs 21:23 KJV)

How often do you say something and later regret you ever opened your mouth or wished you could take back those words? If the answer to this question embarrasses you, it is because you are sharing a strangely difficult human weakness—inability to control ourselves not to say the wrong things. Controlling the words we speak will at once reduce the troubles in our lives.

Solomon says in Prov. 21:23 above, those who control what they say will keep themselves from trouble. So a simple way of reducing some—not all, of our problems in life is to watch over the words we speak to our wives, husbands, children, friends, parents, colleagues, fiancées, business partners, etc. Some people have lost jobs, others God sent marriage partners, and others have ruined precious relationships because of inappropriate words that caused damages beyond repairs.

God created us in His image, and part of that image is the ability to use words. Just as God’s words are full of spiritual power, our words carry natural power. The things we say can cause various changes, such as stirring people’s emotions, changing desires or beliefs, prompting actions or no actions. Rather than destroy or damage people’s lives, God commands us to channel this power and use it to build up people—bring healing, joy, peace, comfort, encouragement, and strength.

So Solomon counsels us to control what we say first for our benefit—reduce unnecessary problems in our lives!

When last did you irritate someone or strain a relationship with what you said?

James gets practical and honest with us: he says the mouth is difficult to control ( James 3:8). But the Spirit gives us self-control to help us control ourselves! Decide not to allow words that hurt people or destroy others to come out of your mouth; choose to be a people builder, and the Spirit will give you the strength to control what you say.

Ask the Spirit to help you control yourself and the words you speak.