Wisdom ~ Proverbs 4:24

Keep your mouth free of perversity;

keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Proverbs 4:24 NIV

Avoid all perverse talk;

stay away from corrupt speech.

Proverbs 4:24 NLT

Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth;

avoid careless banter, white lies and gossip.

Proverbs 4:24 AMP

Avoid = Keep away from or stop oneself from doing

Perverse = Turned away from what is right or good; improper, incorrect

Corrupt = To change from good to bad in morals, manners or actions

Careless = Indifferent, unconcerned, negligent

Banter = To speak playfully or wittily --> useless!

White lies = a lie about a small or unimportant matter to avoid hurting another person

Gossip = Rumor; revealing personal facts about others

I don't know about you, but this is a really painful verse - like really painful. In the past I was so generous with my hateful, cutting, ugly, careless, demoralizing words. They just flowed so freely from my mouth. And I thought I was tough and cute and witty.

What an idiot.

I am so ashamed of the ugly words that have come from my mouth. All the pain my words have caused. All the self-doubt my words have caused in others. All the times my words made someone else feel unloved or not valued.

Painful verse.

When God got a hold of me in my destruction and rescued me, He revealed many things to me about who I had become and how far I had strayed from who He had created me to be. These are a few....as pertains to this verse in particular.

You are selfish.

You are not the submissive wife I have called you to be.

Be quiet.

Dying to self is a journey we are on for all of our lives isn't it? Being the one behind the scenes, not being the star, not being right, not having the last word, not having your way - putting someone else's needs/wants/ideas/words before our own. Caring more about someone else than I care about me. Just doesn't come naturally does it? We were born sinful and selfish.

Equally difficult to do, is being a submissive wife. Doesn't come naturally....because we are selfish. Everything always had to be my way. I always had to have the last word. I always had to be right and do what I wanted to do. There was no give in me.

Also very hard to do was just to be quiet. I am by nature a loud opinionated redhead (and I wore that like a badge of honor).....that is the best way to describe her.

But God.

Boy when He gets a hold of you, He will change you - He will take that old heart of stone and give you a new heart! Praise Him for the extensive work He has done in this sinner!

I highlight - You are selfish. You are not a submissive wife. Be quiet. - Because they are reasons that we fail at this verse.

You spew venom and talk hateful because you are selfish. Because you are not a submissive wife. Because you can't be quiet.

Repent and ask God to change you and create something beautiful, a selfless servant who puts others before herself.

And just shut up!

A woman who goes on and on and is loud and annoying is so unattractive. I know, I used to be her and I cringe thinking back about her now. I refer to the past me as her because she doesn't exist anymore. Praise God!

We must give attention to what we speak - words flow from the heart. Remember what the heart is? Are you guarding it? Remember our study on the previous verse? Go refresh your mind, I will wait.

There are 17 verses in Proverbs alone on words/speech/mouth.

Jesus, David, Paul, Peter, & James have much to say on the topic as well.....

But the words you speak come from the heart - that's what defiles you.

Matthew 15:18

Then keep your tongue from speaking evil

and your lips from telling lies!

Psalms 34:13

Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful,

so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Ephesians 4:29

For the Scriptures say,

"If you want to enjoy life

and see many happy days,

keep your tongue from speaking evil

and your lips from telling lies.

1 Peter 3:10

If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue,

you are fooling yourself,

and your religion is worthless.

James 1:26

And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire.

It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body.

It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

James 3:6

"It's as though all the wickedness in the whole world were wrapped up in that little piece of flesh." ~ Burdick

Are your words evil?

Evil = Morally reprehensible. Wicked.

Reprehensible = Reckless, improper, wicked, foolish. - Man what a horrible word!

Are your words reprehensible? Are they wicked and foolish?

Words can last a lifetime - for good or for evil.....lasting injury.

If we have control over our tongue it is an indication that we have control over our self. ~ The Enduring Word

---> As opposed to both being out of control.

---> If the tongue is out of control, the entire person is out of control!

"Your walk with God is useless if it does not translate into the way you live and treat others." ~ The Enduring Word

How in the world do we tame the tongue and control our words?

Surrender your way!

---> Be under God's authority.

---> Align yourself with Him.

---> Dedicate your heart, mind and tongue to the Lord, daily.

---> Pray for awareness of your words.

---> Ask God for help.

---> Ask God for wisdom and He will give it to you.

---> Spend time with Jesus. - Pray, Praise, Study His Word.

The more time you spend with Jesus, the more you become like Him. I have heard many times the statistic that you become like the people you spend the most time with - spend the most time with Jesus!

God's very Spirit lives in you! - Right in you and He will help you!

Trust me, I know it very well!