Oops, did I just say that?

I think I used to be a lot more spiritually mature when it came to the things that come out of my mouth. Lately I've been finding myself saying "I can't believe I just said that!" There is a reason we are instructed in the Bible to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. There are a lot of random thoughts floating around in our brains. WORDS, sometimes terrible ones, waiting for the opportune time to be strung into a sentence so they can EXPLODE from ones (my) mouth at probably, the most inopportune time.

(These people mean the world to me. I want to

bless them with my words and actions. And bless others as well.) James 1:19 tells us "So then my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." I know some people who carefully consider each word that comes from their mouth. You can see them, as they speak, considering the words they're about to say before they say them. I believe I used to be more of that person....but I have allowed myself to slip into a bad habit, a habit of just saying whatever comes to mind. Now usually the things I say aren't so bad...but sometimes I get myself into a mess! Oh, it's a terrible thing! I need to be more swift to hear; to listen to what someone is saying before I say anything at all. And not just listen, "yeah, yeah...I hear ya." But genuinely process peoples thoughts and ideas.

Proverbs 18:21 says that DEATH and LIFE are in the power of the tongue. Our words can be healing, like a balm...or they can bring pain and misery.

"Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones." Prov. 16:24

I like that verse. I say it a lot, (usually to the kids) but I don't think I put it into practice often enough.

Do you?