1 Kings 20:32-33(KJV)
So, they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Benhadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother. Now the men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily catch it: and they said, Thy brother Benhadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Benhadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.
As precious and indispensable as the tongue is, it can be dangerous when used improperly. From our anchored Scripture the men diligently observe what would come out of king Ahab’s mouth, they were ready to catch his words. In other words, the enemy was looking to catch the words of king Ahab. The men who came to king Ahab understood that our words are expressions of our hearts, of what’s going on inside us. This means our mouths speak forth the overflows of what is in our hearts, that is whatever is on the inside will surely come outside. Whenever we open our mouths, bits of what is stored within them comes forth thereby revealing our character. The words of king Ahab made Benhadad eventually restored the cities his father lost to the Syrians. It is written in Psalm 34:12-13 “What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.”
In life, if there is anything we must learn how to use, it is our tongue because it can build and it can destroy. This is because the world of the spirit does not operate on what we mean but operates on what we say. James 3:6 says “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.” Our tongue can change our present situation and future for either the good or worst. The words we speak would either bring down rain to water the seeds sown or establish a drought that will destroy the seeds. The strategy of the devil is to put us under extreme pressure so that we say the wrong or negative things. That is, the enemy is always looking for what we are saying to use against us. Many people have lost everything in life as a result of careless words. Some are reaping today what was said yesterday and are rather blaming others, saying all manner of things, forgetting tomorrow’s harvest is being determined by what was said yesterday or what we are saying today. Many have ruined their great future as a result of talking to the wrong persons or making their secrets public. Had Samson kept his mouth shut, the source of his strength would not have been known and he would not have been destroyed and ridiculed by the Philistines. Up until Samson’s tongue gave him away, all the devil’s efforts were futile.
Beloved, watch your tongue for it is crucial for your survival. It can shorten or prolong your days. Never forget the enemy is always looking for what you are saying to catch your words. Be careful what information you divulge to your enemies. Stop abusing your tongue because the Bible describes it as a fire that can burn destructively if unguarded. Don’t speak negativity and expect to see positivity, failure and expect to see success or speak frustration and expect to see satisfaction. Don’t run your life down or join anybody to run it down in your presence or absence by negative words. From today, use your tongue only for the beneficial purpose of praising God and lifting up those within your sphere of influence. Ask God for wisdom to know what to say and what not to say at all times. Remember, not to say anything when you are angry because many have used their mouth to kill themselves and others by saying so many unnecessary words.
O Lord, help me to refrain from abusing the tongue, give me the wisdom to say the right words in Jesus’ Name.