Part 3 | The Joy of James

Well, it has been a long rough night. BUT I am up and back into the best book of the Bible ever!! And if you haven’t been following along, well, today is the day you can totally jump and join in alongside the reading of my (current) 🙂 favorite book — the book of JAMES!!!

Yup, feel free to get up and open up your BIBLE and read the third chapter. (It is only 17 verses, so super short.) BUT it holds a super truth, and that has to do with the power of the TONGUE. 

Oh, I am sure you are like me and have heard this type of message, oh, about 1,001 times, going all the way back IN time to when your Mother said, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all!” Right?? And who didn’t get their mouth washed out with soap a time … or two … or more? :):)

And so, it is not exactly rocket science or brand new NEWS to be learning that the TONGUE is a powerful tool for good … or evil. And, well, I guess that is the end of this little devotional discussion, right?

Wrong. LOL! 😉

No, I thought it was so neat, and I had never noticed this before, but in verse 2 it mentions that IF you can control your tongue, if you can keep it in check, then you will keep your WHOLE body in check. And by doing that?? You would have reached PERFECTION.

WHOA — THAT sounds appealing. 🙂

Though to be honest, and maybe this is because we have just discussed some stuff about SELF-WORTH through physical appearance, I believe that most people think “perfection” would  more likely be …

Having the “PERFECT BODY.” (Anyone else agree?)

But if I read this right, and I may be way off — it has happened before in my life a time … or two … or three ;):) — then being “PERFECT” would actually involve being a person who can CONTROL their tongue, their words and the choices they make to SAY or NOT say something.

Do YOU think I got it right??

Well, I think so. 🙂 And maybe I will more boldly say I KNOW so. Because the more I grow spiritually, the more I realize that what you say, how you say it, why you say it, when you say it and to whom you say it to is all very, VERY powerful … and is always PURPOSEFUL.

Like, it can be used for personal gain (aka maybe a bit of that salty water referenced in verse 11) OR …

HIS GLORIOUS GAINS (verse 17).

Yup, I have had to oh-so-slowly UNTEACH my own tongue to NOT say things that do not bring GOD glory … or spiritual growth to myself … OR the person I am speaking to. And that TRUTH, for this pretty-chatty-lady, has been a pretty TOUGH journey.

But I am here on the other side (for the most part) 🙂 to say with my whole heart that when I speak?? It is meant to bring some personal growth to me and to the people around me, kinda just like God works, wouldn’t you say?

And that seems to me a pretty darn good way to be. And feels pretty darn close to “PERFECTION.”

Yup, TRAINING this tongue to speak only to EDIFY has been quite a soul-stretch-and-ride. But the results of that SOUL-training?? Are so beyond good, glorious and gaining!

Because as verse 18 says, “Peacemakers who sow in PEACE reap a harvest of Righteousness.”

Now, what about you? Have you been on a tongue-training journey too? Is it something you even see you might need in your life (like, especially in that role as mother and wife)? :):)

Can’t wait to hear what you have to say — hopefully later today!

And now this chatty-lady will stop talking, ‘cause I can’t wait to listen to YOU.

Carol 😉

Change-Choice-TRUTH