Watch Your Mouth

Scriptures: Proverbs 18:21, Matthew 12:36

“WATCH YOUR MOUTH!” is a phrase my siblings and I heard frequently from our parents during our developmental years. “WATCH YOUR MOUTH!” was used as a reminder for my siblings and I to stay within the communication boundaries of discipline, respect, honesty, and positivity established by our parents. 

I can only recall the phrase being used when we went contrary to our parents’ directives or if our words went against God’s commands. Similar to a parent reminding a child to evaluate their words, God informs his children the power of their words and the importance of choosing words wisely. 

With our tongues we either speak; life or death, victory or defeat, insecurity or confidence, weakness or strength, trust or doubt, but whatever you say, be prepared to eat the fruit of your words. There have probably been times in your life when you’ve said things that were hurtful towards yourself and others. 

When that happens it is vital to seek and receive God’s forgiveness, repent and thoughtfully give attention to your words from that point on. It all starts with watching our mouth because the words we speak have long-lasting impact directly connected to our present and future circumstances. You’d be surprised how your words are affecting your situation. 

Scripture reveals several accounts regarding individuals either watching their mouths or carelessly using words. In both cases, we are shown the effect of the tongue’s power. Words can teach, encourage, and uplift. They also can discourage, reject, and demean. Words can express gratitude, love, and joy. They also can express selfishness, hate, and despondency. 

Our aim is to speak what God says about our situations and not what our inconsistent emotions want us to declare. No matter what is going on in your life today, it’s time to “WATCH YOUR MOUTH!” Don’t get distracted by the trial or the mirage that nothing will change, begin declaring God’s word. This is a work in progress that requires discipline, trust, and faith. 

But once you begin to get in the rhythm of using your words wisely in thanksgiving, and praise to God, when the wrong words try to come out, you will be able to take action and bounce back to God’s words. Speak life and watch your mouth!

Scriptures: Psalms 19:14, Psalms 139:4, Luke 6:45, Proverbs 21:30, Acts 4:32-37, Acts 5:1-11

Proverbs 21:30 states that there is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD. Believers should be mindful that God’s omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent power eradicates all attempts to conceal truth before Him. God is aware of your heart, intentions, and words. God even knows what you are going to say before you say it. (Psalm 139:4) Our hearts and mouths are closely interconnected and require constant inspection to ensure acceptability in God’s sight. Our words reveal what our heart is full of, which is either the fruit of goodness or wickedness. 

God hears and discerns the heart of individuals who: 

Encourage or Mock

Love or Hate 

Plot evil or Plan goodwill 

Speak harshly or Show Love 

Belittle others or Lift others up 

Disrespect God-given relationships and authority or Honor loved ones and respect authority. 

What is in one’s heart eventually comes out of their mouth. In scripture, we read about the account of Ananias and Sapphira. 

During the time the apostles were testifying about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, there were believers who were owners of land and houses. The believers sold their property and brought their entire sale profit to the apostles. 

The favor, kindness, and love that the believers showed to the apostles supported the apostles’ ministry and needs. Ananias and Sapphira also sold a piece of property and kept back some of the earnings bringing only a portion of the profit and set it at the apostles’ feet. 

Both Ananias and Sapphira knew that the amount given to the apostles was not the entire profit from their sale. Although they had complete control on their giving amount, their hearts were deceitful in their actions which exposed insincerity. Ananias died and his body was carried out and buried. 

But when Peter questioned Sapphira hours later about the sale of their land, Sapphira declared the established lie discussed with her husband continuing on with deceit and hypocrisy, therefore, triggering her immediate death. Ananias and Sapphira didn’t lie to the apostles but they lied to God. 

Sapphira didn’t watch her mouth although given the opportunity to speak truth and examine her heart. This is a lesson for us that God sees our hearts and hears what comes out of our mouths. What is your heart full of? What is coming out of your mouth? Are your words and heart’s meditations pleasing before God? Watch your mouth! 

Scriptures: Proverbs 13:3, Proverbs 4:23, 2 Kings 4:8-37

The words that flow from your mouth contain the power to bless or curse. Regardless of your circumstance be cognizant of the words you speak. In scripture, the Shunammite woman serves as an excellent example for individuals to follow in guarding one’s mouth in the midst of difficulty. In Shunem there lived a woman who was prominent and influential. 

When Elisha would pass through the town, the Shunammite woman showed great hospitality by providing a fully furnished dwelling place for him. Mindful of the Shunammite woman’s genuine kindness, Elisha sought to thank and bless her in return. 

Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, stated that she had no son and her husband was old. Elisha spoke a blessing over her that changed the course of her life. She conceived and gave birth to a son the following year. 

Over a period of time, the Shunammite woman’s son told his father about a possible headache he was experiencing and was carried to his mother. The Shunammite woman held her son and then he died. 

For a parent to witness and experience the death of their child is an indescribable feeling that only God’s grace and comforting power can alleviate them from, but in the midst of pain, fear, depression, anxiety, and alarm she was very careful to WATCH HER MOUTH as she sought after the Man of God who declared this promise to her. 

The Shunammite woman guarded her mouth as she carried her son and laid him on the bed and shut the door. She guarded her mouth when she requested transportation from her husband to pursue the Man of God. When her husband asked her the purpose of her visit to Elisha, she replied, “It will be all right.” The Shunammite woman was speaking life into her situation. 

She guarded her mouth when Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, approached her and questioned her regarding the well-being of herself, her husband, and the child, but she answered, “It is well.” Even when she approached Elisha and took hold of his feet, she guarded her mouth and didn’t speak death. 

Elisha prayed to the LORD and the Power of God through the willingness of Elisha resulted in the healing of her son. What a powerful example to follow! Even in the midst of trials and tribulations guard your lips, speak God’s word, and watch your mouth!

Scriptures: Numbers 12, Genesis 12:3, Romans 13:1-2

God is faithful and cares about his children. Although we say things that are not acceptable and receive God’s forgiveness, our actions produce consequences we will have to face. We have to be careful not to allow words to come out of our mouths that discredit, disrespect, and demean individuals God put in authority over us. 

One might not enjoy the authority’s rule or method, but if God put the individual in position one is commanded to submit unto them. It is vital to ask God for wisdom regarding the authorities you have been placed under, seek God’s direction regarding God-honoring authorities in prayer, bible study, and consulting with a God-honoring teacher or pastor. 

In the case of Miriam and Aaron, they didn’t watch their mouths when they murmured against their brother Moses, God’s chosen leader for the Israelites because of his wife. (We have to watch our mouth as it relates to siblings, family, and in-laws too!) When they spoke against their brother, the LORD heard it and called Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to the Tabernacle. The LORD came down personally in a pillar of cloud and stood at the doorway of the tabernacle and called forward Aaron and Miriam. 

God corrected and disciplined them for their words against Moses’ leadership appointed by God, his relationship with God, and his anointing from God. God’s anger was kindled against Aaron and Miriam because their actions and words represented the nature of their heart towards Moses.

As a result, Miriam was leprous and confined outside of the camp for seven days. Additionally, Aaron pleaded with Moses for forgiveness and the Israelites could not move forward until Miriam was declared ceremonially clean. Miriam and Aaron, like so many of us, did not watch their mouths and experienced the consequences associated with it. 

Our words not only affect our circumstances, they affect those around us. It is of extreme importance to genuinely speak words that edify, encourage, and respect others. We must keep our hearts aligned with what is acceptable in God’s sight and guard our mouths continuously. 

This is also encouragement to you as you continue walking according to God’s will, word and way that when people speak against you, God will deal with them because he is our vindicator. Check your heart and watch your mouth!

Scriptures: Numbers 13:25-33, Numbers 14:1-4, Numbers 14:28, Proverbs 13:3, Proverbs 18:21

God hears everything we say including compliments and complaints. Be careful to guard your mouth and not say anything that contradicts God’s will for you as it relates to his promises in Christ Jesus. Our mouths set us back when we speak from our emotions and feelings. 

Our mouths propel us forward when we speak God’s promises in faithful expectation. It is vital for anyone who says they believe and trust God to watch their mouths as His plan of good and purpose is brought to fruition in their lives. The LORD told Moses to send men to spy out the land of Canaan (the land that he already promised to give the sons of Israel). 

The twelve spies went on a forty-day excursion to learn more about the land, and when they returned at the end of the forty days they reported to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the sons of Israel the land’s abundant prosperity flowing with milk and honey. 

The spies even showed them the land’s fruit, a single cluster of grapes, pomegranates, and figs, but right after complimenting the land’s produce and abundance they complained about the people in the land. Caleb quieted the people. 

That is interesting to read. I believe Caleb was aware that the tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit (Proverbs 18:21). Caleb spoke life and agreed with God’s word by saying, “Let us go up at once and take possession of it; for we will certainly conquer it.” But the other spies except Joshua continued speaking death and defeat thus creating a chain reaction with the Israelites to murmur against Moses, Aaron, and the LORD. 

By not watching their mouths the Israelites who complained died in the wilderness. By not watching their mouths the Israelites who complained, their children were set back forty years before they entered the Promised Land. By not watching their mouths the ten spies who brought back the bad report of the land died by a plague before the LORD. 

Caleb and Joshua remained alive out of the men who went to spy out the land. Additionally, God promised that they would enter into the Promised Land and their descendants would take possession of it. Let this be a reminder to guard your lips, check your heart, and watch your mouth!

Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Romans 8:28, John 16:33

Thanking God is essential and it is His will that children of covenant give thanks to him. God is worthy and deserving of our praise, because he is good, loving, faithful, gracious, forgiving, and merciful.  We must watch our mouths when trials, tribulations, and life’s challenges come and our emotions want to negatively express our perspective regarding our current circumstance. We don’t want to be set back. We want to be propelled further in the purposes and plans of God. This doesn’t mean to disregard the trials and valleys you will experience, but it does mean to continuously thank God for his authority, love, and ability to guide you through the uncomfortable, uncertain times in your life. Thank God for his provision in your life when circumstances appear hopeless.Thank God for supplying all your needs and don’t complain about what you don’t have.Thank God for his promises coming to fruition in your life even when they seem to tarry. Thank God for his love despite how others have treated you.Thank God for his loving correction and guidance despite how some may have harshly criticized you.Thank God for where you are in life because he is guiding you.Thank God for health, strength, wholeness, and blessings.Thank God for loving you so much that he cares about your present and future God-honoring relationships. Thank Jesus for redeeming you and serving as your advocate. Thank God that all things are working together for your good.Thank God for lovingly receiving you when others rejected you.No matter what is going on in your life, aim to thank God for his goodness and love.Watch your mouth!