Taming the Tongue

Monday, May 7, 2012

Suggestions to tame the tongue.

1. Recognize the signs of unhealthy speech. Determine if your speech involves the sins of the tongue: slander sins, falsehoods, negativity (complaining).

2. If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything.

“Speak ill of no man, but speak all the good you know of everybody” (Benjamin Franklin).

"Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something” (Plato).

3. Know when to stand up and speak and when to sit down and listen. “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen” (Winston Churchill). Stay out of conversations that do not concern you.

4. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).”When angry count to ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one hundred” (Thomas Jefferson).

5. Think before you speak – Is it true, helpful, inspiring, necessary, kind?

6. Speak the truth in love. But "speaking the truth in love" means you speak with respect, gentleness, and kindness—maintaining the other person’s dignity.

7. Do not listen to or participate in negative talk. Stay away from tale bearing or any conversation that tears down instead of builds up.

8. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your every emotion, thought, word, and deed. And then OBEY.

9. Think on these things: Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8

10. When people speak badly about you, take the advice of Plato.
“When men speak ill of thee, live so as nobody may believe them” (Plato).