Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. James 3:5
Someone has estimated that the average individual has as many as 700 occasions to speak during a busy day. In the course of these conversations a talkative person might speak as many as 100,000 words, using 12,000 sentences!
What destruction can be wrought in a single day by just one person with that many words! But also what blessing! It all depends on how words are used. Although damaging consequences can result from the tongue's misuse, much good can be accomplished if it is used properly.
How will your tongue be used today? To speak words that bless the Lord, encourage others, and witness for Christ? Or will it be involved in gossiping, judging, and criticizing? If during a 24-hour period everything said were recorded and then played back to us, would we be shocked?
So watch what you say! Whether you are a talkative person using 100,000 words or the silent type using less than 10,000, make them count for good! Penitently seek divine pardon for past misuses of the tongue, through the merits of the Savior, then let Him control your speech and conversation.
PRAYER: Lord, let the words of my mouth be acceptable in Your sight, for You are my strength and my Redeemer; in Jesus' name. Amen.
(Devotions from "The Abundant Life" copyright 1998, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time e-mailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)
Today's Bible Readings: Isaiah 30-31 Romans 2
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