Surrendering the tongue to the good intent and careful nature of the Holy Spirit not only safe guards those around you but also brings a new intimacy with God. In the process of zipping our lips, our heart slowly begins to look more like God’s.
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”- [Philippians 4:8-9]
“Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.”- [Psalm 141:3]
You know the feeling; blood boiling, tenth clenching, tear jerking. You’re mad; you’re hurt, someone has offended you, something went wrong and now you have a decision to make. There’s two sides to this. That is, pertaining to the route of response to answer the anger brewing inside. There’s two sides: the flesh or the spirit.
The flesh is our carnal or human born nature. When someone hurts us, it’s the impulse in our gut that demands that we hurt them back. The flesh’s policy is and eye for an eye and it seeks it’s own happiness before anyone else’s. However the spirit is given to us she we get saved; it isn’t to be confused with a conscious. The spirit leads us (if we heed/listen to it) in a direction that isn’t selfish. It says instead, if someone hurts you, pray for them, love them, forgive them, treat them as you want to be treated.
It’s evident that the spirit and the flesh are polar opposites; that, being set in stone in Galatians 5:17. “For the flesh lusts against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another so that you do not do the things that you wish.” In order to look like Christ, we need to walk after the spirit. However, if we are wrapped up in the flesh and infused with its selfish yearnings and desires, how can we faithfully walk after the spirit? Well, thankfully God didn’t give us a destination without a roadmap.
Jesus tells us in the book of Luke, the first step in walking in the spirit:
“Then He said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
Deny Yourself -The first step to walking in the spirit is denying yourself; denying that fleshly nature. This was well said by Susan Gregory, “Sometimes we just need to talk back to our flesh. It’s like having an “out of body experience” in a way. Tell your flesh to sit down. Declare to it that your spirit is following the Spirit of God and your flesh is required to submit.”
Denying yourself looks like reading your bible when you felt like watching TV.
Denying yourself looks like going into prayer for someone in need when you wanted to lay down and go to sleep.
Denying yourself looks like holding your tongue when you felt like biting someone’s head off-
and to deny yourself even further, after holding your tongue, give that someone a genuine smile and show them love instead of giving a not-so holy and not-so righteous spiteful look.
Instead of doing what feels right, do what God’s truth declares right.
2. Take Up Your Cross Daily–
Jesus was flesh too; before facing the cross, Jesus’ cried out “remove this cup from me”[ Luke 22:42 ] but the words spoken after that should be an example to us “nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done”. Though Jesus didn’t want to face the cross, He submitted to the will of the Father. We too, need to take up our cross; live a life that says not my will but Your will God.
Not only do we need to take up our cross but we need to take it up daily! Everyday we need to resubmit ourselves to the will of the Father. Sometimes the cross feels heavy and it’s the hardest thing to ask yourself ” what would Jesus do?” but there is no greater feeling than knowing you are in God’s will.
Make your mind up today, to live and love like Christ and tomorrow, make your mind up again.
3.Follow Him-
Resolve to follow Jesus, to love Him and obey His word and trust that when you slip up that He gives you grace and mercy. Repent and turn from sin, and keep following Him; no matter what happens or what you do, just never stop following Him.
All the things above help us to become more like Christ which is key in containing the tongue.
However, easier said than done.
Remember, we are still flesh! We are infused with selfish yearnings and desires but when we give heed to the Holy Spirit, He acts as a filter to those things.
We are unable to do these things in our own strength; trying to be righteous on our own can easily become burdensome but striving after righteousness with God’s help is liberating. Trust Him, ask Him for help, pray, learn, and enjoy the journey.
“Make your mind up today, to live and love like Christ and tomorrow, make your mind up again.”
Self- control is so important,“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”- [Proverbs 25:28]
However, the key element to self control is knowing that, above all, God is in control.
God is in control so don’t sweat the unsolicited advice, the rudeness of others, and snarky comments others may make. The bible tells us in Romans 12:19 that vengeance is His that He shall repay.
Sometimes god says Hush!
He knows they hurt you.
He knows they push your buttons.
He knows it wasn’t right.
Silence isn’t always justifying an action, sometimes it’s wisdom in disguise, delivered in love.
So when God says Hush, tell your flesh to sit down and zip the lips! words are so powerful, however, the lack there of has just as much power.
Love on, and Learn; pick your battles.. and let God fight them.