You know, when you go through the exercise of more intentionally learning to tame your tongue, I'm finding one needs to learn to tame ones heart and mind before one governs the tongue. How is it with you?
Lately the Lord has immersed me into a situation that allows for plenty tongue-taming opportunities. The old nature is surely raked up but thankfully Holy Spirit's got a grip and cautioning me to watch my words.
Yet it goes deeper than that - I say this with chagrin. It's what's in the heart and mind that the rubber is hitting the road! This 'ole gray mare' really needs the bit and bridle to rein in her words.
No 'neigh' - saying allowed. In this case, regarding the slandering tongue. The irritant in my oyster is alive and active and I so want to tell you all about this irritant in no uncertain words!
A friend prayed for me though. You know the gist of her words were that I'd go a mile in that irritant's shoes. From what I know of the situation, this person hadn't had a very happy life. He's had major disappointments, likely consequences of his own making. However, my friend said,
"He needs the Savior to make him a new creature in Christ. You may be the light of Christ to this elderly person. Pray for his salvation."
Ironically, I hope telling this much to all the world is not slander but more a shedding light as an example of how we can use the opportunities the Lord presents to us, to 'fine-tune' our own foibles that are sinful in God's sight. Ahem, by 'fine-tune' I mean to work on eradicating them in our own life first.
Slander does not have another person's best interests at heart. It is often used to make ones own self 'look good'. We all know the amount of disgustingly, blatant back-stabbing, slander that goes on especially as seen during American political campaigns for the presidency.
Grown men verbally abusing each other creating scenes you'd rather not witness or hear about. If that displeases you, just think how much it displeases the Lord when His followers do it, even if in more subtle ways.
May we, like the psalmist, make the commitment ...
"who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman" (Psalm 15:1-3).
Deborah Smith Pegues reminds us of Proverbs 10:18 (NLT) in her book 30 Days to Taming YOUR Tongue, that,
"To hide hatred is to be a liar; to slander is to be a fool."
Pegues further elaborated,
"Slandering is an illegal, diabolical act that God abhors. When we attempt to defame others, with our denigrating words, we are sowing evil seeds for which we will surely reap the consequences" (p. 45).
Let's ponder her point.
Father God, help us guard our hearts, minds and tongues so we do not slander others. Sometimes it pours forth from our mouths, like a well-oiled 'spitfire' machine. Rein in those tongues. May Holy Spirit convict us loudly and clearly so that, instead, we will speak only words that build each other up, in kindness and good care. I ask in Jesus' name. Amen.
~ERC May 2025 ~
Based on Proverbs 10:18 NLT/ESV and 30 Days to Taming YOUR Tongue by Deborah Smith Pegues.
Sing: What Your Are, Speaks so Loud, along with Selah Praise Music.
See also: Morning Musings - Slanderous Slander.
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