"Tongue Fast" (TT)

 

Reading about "The Gossiping Tongue' in Deborah Smith Pegues' book 30 Days to Taming YOUR Tongue, I was intrigued by her exclamation of "tongue fast!"  This is in regards to another person trying to engage her in gossip.  She said she points to her tongue and says, "tongue fast!".

Wow.  This coupled with her idea when hearing slanderous talk is excellent steerage.  She mentions "conversation sifter".  When I first read the term, my eyes saw it as "conversation shifter".

But its sifter, not shifter.

However, when I thought, oh, to be able to shift a conversation, perhaps somewhat bluntly, to more healthy talk would be wonderful using word alternatives such as Philippians 4:8 offers.  These are honorable, just, pure, lovely and so on.

The notion of sifter on the other hand weeds out the negative and leaves the good which is also, honorable and just and so on.  So either way we can take a better stance, by sifting and then shifting the conversation or cutting it off altogether with "tongue fast!" so one doesn't engage in, and /or hear the malice continued.

I really like Pegues 'tool' suggestions.  Let's beware with which our tongues wag; whether to tear someone down or to build someone up.  May our words, which stem from our minds and hearts, be acceptable in God's sight (see Psalm 19:14).

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer."

Lord, I come to You now in humble confession of the times I heartlessly have spoken gossip about certain people.  Help me to learn the "tongue fast!"  Govern my heart and mind so that what comes out will be words that are acceptable to You and for the good and benefit of others.  Otherwise, let me be like the monkey that clamps its hands over its mouth and speaks no evil, so to speak.  May I learn to be a sifter and a shifter of conversation that is unhealthy.  Instead may I, along with all my brothers and sisters-in-Christ speak virtuous words that are honorable, true, noble, lovely and so on.  I ask in Your name Lord Jesus, amen.

                                                      ~ ERC  May 2025 ~

Based on Proberbs 18:8 (NIV) and loosely on 30 Days to Taming YOUR Tongue by Deborah Smith Pegues.

Sing, Changed, along with Hannah Kerr.