5 Ways to Tame Your Tongue

I remember it like it was yesterday. I was in my 5th-grade history class when a friend made fun of my fingers. Apparently they were too chubby for his liking, so he decided to refer to them as cheese puffs. It’s kind of funny now, but his words certainly left a mark. Here I am telling you about it, eleven years later.

The Call to Tame Your Tongue

Our words are strong weapons that hold great potential- to harm and to heal. (Proverbs 18:21) They can destroy marriages, friendships, careers, reputations, even lives. Used the right way, however, they can heal marriages, friendships, careers, reputations, and even save lives.I’m just as guilty as anyone else when it comes to taming my tongue. One minute, I can be found worshiping God with it. The next, I can be found saying things I shouldn’t—knowing good and well that I shouldn’t, too.

Friend, we always have a choice when we speak. Let’s fight against our sin-prone flesh and commit to saying words that instill love, light, and hope instead of darkness and despair.*Note: We cannot do this in our own strength! (James 3:8) We must partner with the Holy Spirit and allow ourselves to be led by Him.

5 Ways to Tame Your Tongue

Surrender yourself to God

Your heart, your mind, your tongue- surrender all of these things to Him. “Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the LORD our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments...” -1 Kings 8:61 (ESV)

MEDITATE

Meditate on the many Scriptures that teach about the power of your tongue. James 3 is a great place to start.

Look at What You Are Filling Your Heart With

Luke 6:45 tells us, “the mouth speaks what the heart is full of!” Fill your heart with the Father’s heart for His people! Stay rooted in His word. His word is a lamp for our feet & a light on our path. Draw near to it & keep His commands in your heart. (Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 3:1-2)

Think Before You Speak

Pray that God would give you a strong sense of discernment when it comes to what you should & should not say. Pray that He would guard your mouth from saying words that bring nothing but darkness & destruction. (Psalm 141:3) Pray for the boldness to speak up when no one else will. Seek to make your mouth a fountain of life. (Proverbs 10:11)

Fill Your Mouth with Life

Fill your mouth with life, not death. Be intentional about lifting others up. Speak life into those around you. Yes, even the people you do not enjoy being around. You never know what kind of impact God will use your words to make in the hearts of others. Set the example. (Ephesians 4:29)

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Meet the Founder

Elle Cardel

Elle is a 26-year-old southern gal (howdy, y’all!) and lives in a historic fixer-upper in Shelbyville, TN with her college sweetheart and hubby, Michael.She is a go-getter, a black coffee fanatic, and a little "too" obsessed with pygmy goats!Most importantly, though, Elle is on a mission to encourage and empower women across the globe with the life-giving, transformative truths found in God’s infallible Word. She believes that in order to truly know and enjoy life with the Father, we must live and breathe His Word. This is how Daughter of Delight, the online women’s ministry God called Elle to launch in September 2014, came to be. You can read more about her story here!

In her free time, Elle enjoys outdoor adventures and home DIY projects with the hubs, driving into town to catch up over coffee with her friends (she’ll take an iced almond latte, please!), four-wheeling and playing with the cows on the Cardel family farm, listening to podcasts, writing, and dreaming- LOTS of dreaming!She is so glad you are a part of the Daughter of Delight community and prays that this ministry would point you to intentionally pursue life with our Creator!