The Power of Your Tongue

Did you know that because of the way it is built, your tongue is the most elastic, pliable, and tireless muscle matrix in your body?  It's not the strongest, but it is the Energizer Bunny of the soft tissue set.  Considering everything we use it for (eating, talking, making funny faces), its stamina is pretty incredible.

Even though it's not the strongest muscle, it is the most powerful.  Not physiologically, but spiritually.  You can use your tongue to build people up or tear them down, to curse or to bless, to praise or blaspheme.  Jonathan Merritt wrote in the 5-day study "Learning to Speak God from Scratch" that, "A simple no can fly from our lips with the decimating power of a shotgun shell, while a sincere yes can alter the course of a life."  Proverbs 18:21 (NLT) says, "The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences."

Simply put, the tongue is a weapon.  Why don't we treat it as such?  We wouldn't wave around a gun, even if we had ejected the magazine and cleared the chamber (at least, I hope we wouldn't).  Why are we so careless with how we wave around our tongues?

Speaking is one of the most sacred acts out there.  God spoke creation into existence.  We are the only species he gave articulated speech to.  We were made in His image.  Right down to the ability to articulate our thoughts, feelings, wishes, dreams, ideas, and desires.  Could you imagine the chaos that would happen if God spoke with the thoughtlessness and abandon we do on a daily basis?

My best friend got me a necklace for Christmas that says "I love Jesus, but I cuss a little."  It's true.  Four letter words fly past my teeth more often than I would wish.  I'm working on that.  I'm not perfect.  I don't have even half my stuff together yet.  But I've gotten it to the point where the cussing is in context.  And I'm careful with things that can be hurtful.  I've been torn apart verbally, and I don't want anyone to feel that way because I did it to them. 

I want to use my words to build people up.  To make them appreciate themselves a little bit more.  I want my tongue to be a weapon in the arsenal of God.  Just like it's easier to smile than it is to frown, it's much easier to be kind than it is to be cruel.  Be free with your kind words.  You have an endless supply of them.  And kindness is a mustard seed.  It can alter the course of a life.