Truth Talks

Truth Talks

Take control of what I say, O LORD, and guard my lips.

Psalm 141:3

When I first became a Christian, I discovered that one of the hardest habits to break was allowing unkind words to spout from my lips. For many years I’d filled my mind with wicked, idle, and unclean thoughts, and they usually pushed through my lips when I felt anger or frustration. In time, with many prayers and much confession, I began to gain control of my words, but it wasn’t easy.

The Amish teach their children that their thoughts will direct their speech, their conduct, and their entire way of life. This is discussed in the devotional book Rules of a Godly Life, which is commonly used in conjunction with the Bible in Amish homes:

If you desire in honorable company to be joyful take care that your merriment prove worthy of Christian love, purity, and respectability. Avoid, therefore, rude insults, mocking speech, indecent words, and filthy jokes of which respectable people would be ashamed. First, because lewd conversation of this sort is outward proof of an unregenerate heart; “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). Second, because smutty humor and immodest words smooth the road to dishonorable deeds.

One of the best ways to develop strength of character is to learn how to control your tongue. This starts by guarding what enters your mind. As one of my schoolteachers used to say, “Garbage in, garbage out.” If you don’t fill your mind with garbage, then you won’t have to worry about it slipping out in your words or actions.

Second, when the abundance of our hearts grows from the truth that is centered on Jesus, who is the Truth, lies will have no place on our tongues because we will be busy “rejoicing in the truth” (see 1 Corinthians 13:6). Living in the light of the truth will give us minds of gratitude. It will promote righteous thinking and holy living. And that will help us to guard our words.

Dear heavenly Father, give me a passion for the truth. Fill me so full of it that it’s what spills out first in every situation.