Understand What Your Tongue Is Capable Of 1
David W Palmer
Our Lord Jesus gives us the fundamental teaching on the power of our words—ones that spring from what we really believe in our hearts:
(Mark 11:22–24 NKJV) ... he will have whatever he says.”
Jesus begins this passage by urging us to have complete faith in God and his word. If this is what we truly believe in our hearts, our tongues will fall into line with it; we will believe and say that with which God agrees, and we will be able to bring “good things” to pass—if we win the fight of faith:
(Luke 6:45 NKJV) “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
As always, the faithful Holy Spirit illuminates and expands on what Jesus said about our words. Through James, for example, the Holy Spirit teaches us much about the power and use of our tongue—our words.
Our Tongue Can Bridle Our Whole Body!
(James 3:2 NKJV) … we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
This is amazing; a crucial key for walking in the way God wants is to not stumble in our words. If we can get our tongue right, we can direct our whole body right. To help us fully grasp the importance of this crucial concept, the Holy Spirit gives several pertinent illustrations in his explanation about the power of the tongue:
ILLUSTRATION 1—A Bit in a Horse’s Mouth
(James 3:3 NKJV) Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.
When a jockey or rider pulls on the “bit” in a horse’s mouth, it puts pressure on the tongue and mouth of the animal. This small bit, pulled with relatively little pressure, causes the mighty horse to turn its whole body. This will harness its strength, speed, and momentum into the direction you want it to go. Thus you can control your physical destiny for that ride.
Similarly, if we can learn how to bridle our tongues—understand what the “bit” is for our lives; and then if we understand how to put pressure on our tongue to make it go in the right direction, we will head towards our God-given destiny in life.
ILLUSTRATION 2—Rudder on a Ship
(James 3:4 NKJV) Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.
In this illustration of the power of the tongue, the Holy Spirit emphasises that a small item within the large body of the mighty ship can harness its momentum and aim it into the direction you choose. The helmsman simply controls the rudder with seemingly little force, and the immense power and momentum of the massive ship begins to turn in the direction he chooses.
This illustration adds another dimension for us. The rudder changes well before the whole vessel yields completely and comes into compliance with the helmsman’s desired direction. For us, this means first that if we can harness and set our tongue we will get to where God wants us to go. But it also means that there may be a time lag from when we start putting in force with our tongue and when we see the outcome in the natural realm.
If you put pressure on the rudder of your life—your tongue and faith in your heart—and if you set it in the right direction; eventually, the whole of your life will change direction. And, as with a ship, this can change the direction of the lives of all travelling with you and much cargo.
Today, I encourage you to get your tongue set in the direction you want your life to go. Find the relevant passages of Scripture that promise you the outcomes you need, and then make them your confession … continually … without varying. Eventually, your whole life and body will change direction to come into line with where your tongue is directing.
