Is your tongue wholesome, or has it caused a breach in the (your) spirit?
This post is primarily for those who believe in Jesus Christ and have confessed that belief (of The Gospel Message) in their hearts with their lips. (Romans 10:9-10).
Greetings!
Over 8 years ago, I published this piece (Including the Prayer at the end!) when I was still on social media, but it wasn’t ever shared on any other platforms or sites.
I’ve edited it a bit, and my hope is that if you’re NOT struggling with these things, you might find it helpful for someone you may choose to share it with!
Are you saying curse words, word curses, or (God forbid) both?
Once I heard a nephew in California say or share this (wise!) admonition to someone:
“Check yourself, before you wreck yourself!”
That really resonated with me personally, as a man of God now, but also as a sinner and for many years as a lukewarm believer, who spoke occasional curse words over a span of years, before The LORD GOD left the 99 to come and get me!
When I was in that mode, and or speaking negatively about others (or sometimes myself!), what did that really say of my “heart condition”?
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45.
What treasure are you carrying in your heart, is it good or evil?
I’m not here to make this a big, long post but it probably won’t be short, because this is a HUGE topic and of critical importance in this hour.
My thoughts and wisdom don’t really matter; for believers however-the living word of God does, and let’s see what He has to say about this subject?
I pray for The Holy Spirit to minister through the Word to whoever the Father draws to this, that needs some help!
“Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Proverbs 18:21.
“But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3:8.
“A wholesome tongue [is] a tree of life: but perverseness therein [is] a *breach in the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4.
Life and death?! Evil and poison?
But let’s look at that last one and the definition of “breach”.
A *breach in the spirit sounds serious to me!
This is pasted from websters.com and their definition:
*Breach : noun
1. the act or a result of breaking; break or rupture.
2. an infraction or violation, as of a law, trust, faith, or promise.
3. a gap made in a wall, fortification, line of soldiers, etc.; rift; fissure.
This indicates a serious condition spiritually!
The thing is, if Christians (or anyone!) are operating in this condition and either don’t recognize the seriousness of it, or they do but can’t change, then that’s evidence they’re under the influence of an enemy attack. (demonic oppression, a spirit of cursing, etc.)
Here’s another Scripture that talks about what happens if we allow “breaches” in our hedge or wall:
“He who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent.” Ecclesiastes 10:8.
Even if we’re not spitting out profanity all the time, oftentimes we tend to curse ourselves or others without realizing it!
I was so guilty of these numerous times in my life.
This can open a “hole in the wall” or a breach in the hedge, and enemy agents (demons, etc.) can encroach or trespass against us, by coming through the legal “opening/breach” that we’ve allowed.
Or if we have not renounced or rebuked and cancelled curses spoken directly against us, or somehow (God forbid!) come into agreement with any curses and lies, that’s an opening in the legal (And especially, the spiritual warfare sense!)
Fortunately, when we discern and recognize things and make it right with God, His blood washes us, we can be forgiven and close any breach! (More on how to do that in a little bit!)
The only way we can catch ourselves, is to check ourselves.
Don’t take my word for it though, take His:
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified. 2 Corinthians 13:5.
Back to the Tongue…. Please keep reading as there’s some help at the end, but we must understand the critical nature of this matter and study the word ourselves for what God instructs us to do.
I highly recommend diving in to study the whole book of James, it’s only 5 short chapters, but here are some powerful scriptures that God is admonishing us with:
“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of [nature; and it is set on fire by hell.” James 3:6.
“If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.”James 1:26.
So, if you’re saying “my heart’s good” but you’re slipping on curse words or other things frequently; then you’re “bridling not” your tongue.
Don’t get complacent, just get real and give it to God, and repent! (Turn from or stop doing it, if you try and can’t, you need help in “the children’s bread” or deliverance, it’s that simple.)
Often, it’s bitterness or unforgiveness that can be part of the “root” to cursing.
Sometimes, we get busy and stressed, we get out of fellowship with God (We are isolated from true believers, or not in a real bible study, or reading His word ourselves.) or by not spending enough time in prayer.
These things being neglected weaken us spiritually! It’s time to make a stand, and fight!
I get it, life is demanding and at times turbulent, to say the least! But we can’t grumble and complain, not only does our Father NOT like it, but if we do it when we’re alone, then soon we’ll be doing it when we’re with or speaking about others. (And He hears and keeps track of everything- nothing is hidden!)
“Do all things without complaining and disputing,” Philippians 2:14.
When we murmur, and dispute, we can get angry and next thing you know we’re arguing or “contending” with brothers and sisters in Christ!
This is a scripture I have burned into memory, but remember, there are 6 things God hates, yea seven are abomination!
(Do you want to be guilty of things God HATES!? Of course not!)
“These six things The LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look,
a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16-19.
All of the above God hates, anyone who “speaks lies” is doing it with his tongue, but the last thing He considers abomination!
If you’re “sowing” discord, it’s happening through your tongue, or sometimes these days our fingertips.
The whole topic of “unity in the Spirit and being known by our “love for one another” is another post or book, but we must guard our hearts and our lips!
Please understand! God is going to hold us accountable for EVERY idle word:
“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37.
Okay, by now you should get the picture. It’s time to take this matter seriously if we’re fighting this challenge.
So, what “tips” does the word of God give us?
There are so many more scriptures on this deep subject, I’m not going to be able to share them all, but here’s a couple solid words to remember and stand on, and after that we’ll wrap this post up!
“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29.
Tip 1:
“Pause before you speak!”
Based on this scripture above, I would suggest a quick pause before you blurt something out.
Think quickly, is this going to “edify” (lift-up or encourage) the hearer, or give them grace?
If it’s not, adjust and or just go with that earthly idiom that is so awesome — “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all!”
The Bible’s similar version to that, although it’s more specific and admonishes w/this wisdom:
“He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.” Proverbs 13:3.
Here’s another foundational instruction that’s so basic but powerful if we obey it!
“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” James 1:19.
Tip 2:
Examine your heart — or ask God to!
Why? Because these 2 scriptures below explain a lot of what’s actually going on.
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45.
Yes, I put this verse in a second time intentionally! Don’t forget it and always “self-monitor” and guard your heart!
“Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put perverse lips far from you.” Proverbs 4:24.
Okay, we’re nearly at the end!
So, if no man can tame the tongue — and out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks — what are we to do?
Get real with God! Confess sins or shortcomings (Repent) and give it to Him!
Here are second final Scriptures for now, and then I’ll close with suggested prayers or a model you can adapt if you’d like, just lay it on the altar so to speak and ask Him to help you and deliver you!
You can’t be set in a large place, unless you CALL UPON Him:
“I called upon The LORD in distress: The LORD answered me, [and set me] in a large place.” Psalm 118:5.
“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips,” Psalm 141:3.
In closing, if you’re speaking LIFE to yourself and others and walking in love; then that’s producing “good fruit” and keep it up!
We all need to walk this way, the time is late, the King is returning soon, and gross darkness is quickening all around us. (Isaiah 60:2)
We cannot remain in this or any other snares of the enemy any longer, it’s time for God’s People to be free and not verbally attack any of His sons and daughters!
If you are battling and speaking some life, but also some “not so good things”, then here’s the kind of prayer that God will answer quickly if you pray it and mean it!
I’m starting it about “the tongue and the heart,” but I’m incorporating part of what I call “Readiness Prayer” into it as well.
Any and every Christian should stay vigilant and pray this way.
If you read this and say, “I don’t need to ever pray like that!” then I humbly suggest you examine yourself in the faith and ask The LORD to deliver you of any pride, also sometimes referred to as the spirit of “Leviathan”. (See Job 41, there’s a whole chapter about that serpent!)
Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. (1 Corinthians 10:12)
And remember this: “looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;” (Hebrews 12:15)
Prayer example for the lips/tongue, heart condition, and “readiness”; use it as is or edit as you’re led by The Holy Spirit for your situation!
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I come to you in the mighty name of Jesus Father God, and I thank you that by Grace I am saved, and for the precious gift of sending your only begotten Son to die on The Cross for my sins!
Father, at times I’m struggling with “bridling my tongue.”
Please forgive me of anytime I have spoken anything that did not edify or encourage or give grace to the hearer!
Please forgive me for all the times I may have sown discord, or grumbled, or for outright cursing!
Forgive me for any assumptions, gossip, or slander, anything intentional, or anything I may not have discerned!
Please remove any bitter seed, or rotten fruit, anything that is not of you!
Examine my heart God, you own it. Cleanse it and rinse me with the Blood of Jesus.
I repent for any poison or curses to myself or others that ever came out of my lips!
Please deliver me of any pain, anger or rejection in my heart, so that it does not turn into a root of bitterness!
Please cancel all word curses that I’ve ever spoken over myself or another person or even my family members!
I renounce them and cancel them in Jesus’ mighty name! Pour out your grace and blessing on anyone I ever cursed, including myself!
(Examples: “You’re so stupid”, or “I’ll never get it right”, or “You’re never going to amount to anything.”)
These are lies from the pit of hell, and I repent for cursing anyone, or agreeing with anyone who cursed me, knowingly or unknowingly!
LORD God, I read your Word and it says: “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks!” (Matthew 12:34, Proverbs 4:23,21:2,24:12, Psalm 14:1, Ezekiel 11:21,16:30, Luke 6:45)
Please make my heart wholly healed and wash it and me in your perfect love!
Not only does perfect love cast out all fear, but it also gives me love, power and a sound mind!
Examine my heart Father, and do what needs to be done spiritually, heal or deliver me, so that I sin not against you.
Let no pride or iniquity rise-up within me, remove anything that would have dominion over me, any secret sin or anything known or unknown that would hinder my walk for you or your plan you designed over my life!
LORD, in this hour you need us at full strength for what you have called the body of Christ to do, deliver me of ANY unbelief operating anywhere in my life!
And I thank you Father for giving me a “healthy” version of Fear of The LORD, because your word says it’s the BEGINNING of wisdom!
Let me be known by my true brethren for my “love for one another”, and I decree and declare from this day forward, my tongue will produce sweet or good fruit — in Jesus’s mighty Name!
Please make and keep me a vessel of honor and not dishonor, and let your grace give me strength to become fully ready and alert, for your glorious return!
I know I can’t fix anything myself, but with you God Almighty, your word say all things are possible.
I rest in the sacrifice that Jesus made me for me with His precious blood, but I ask Him like David did, to “guard my lips and set a watch over my mouth,” (Psalm 141:3)
I know your Words says when I confess my sin, you’re faithful and just to forgive me.
Thank you LORD, you are amazing. Lead me to all truth, and I ask for wisdom and understanding, and also for the gift of discernment to increase in me, so I can discern spirits (not of You) in anyone else, or myself!
Thank you for hearing the cry of my heart, and in Jesus mighty name, I say: AMEN!
God bless you if you made it here and if you prayed!
The above is an “Overcomer Prayer” for anyone who said Amen….
Postscript
Sometimes we get badly hurt, and it’s hard to just let trauma go — without help.
If anyone has anything super heavy going on and you don’t know where to turn, contact me and I’ll try to help, or possibly refer you to resources or ministers that I know are operating in truth, depending on your situation, my schedule and time zones. (I can be reached by the contact form at the top of my website, EaglesOfZion.com
The “Children’s bread” is for His children and remember: Who the Son sets free is (to be) free indeed. (John 8:36)
“that if you confess with your mouth The LORD Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10.
“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36.