Day 11 - 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting
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Day 11 - James 3:2-12
SCRIPTURE:
2 For 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. 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 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. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
2 For 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. 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 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. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
LESSON:
Years ago, I would get up early in the morning and head over to a friend's house. He had horses and we would go out riding as the sun was just making its way up over the horizon. I have some great memories from those rides! Often we would head towards a particular farm where we knew a fence needed mending. Most mornings we would find five to ten calves outside the fence munching in the fields of beans or corn. My buddy and I would quickly “cowboy up” and round up the cattle as if we were on a dude ranch in Texas! It was so much fun!
The key to steering the cattle back into the farmer's pasture was to be able to control the horse you were riding. I learned a lot about horsemanship during that time. Especially the importance of a good bridle! I learned about English vs. Western bridles, the different kinds of bits and most importantly how to use the reins effectively! You can basically move a horse anywhere you want if you know how to manipulate the reins correctly. But I’m pretty sure those horses taught me more than I ever taught them! Especially Xena. She was a beautiful little bay mare who could be very temperamental. She was fast as greased lightning, quicker than any horse I have ever ridden before or since, and extremely smart! If Easy, the big palomino quarter horse, was a pickup truck then Xena was a little sports car! She was so much fun to ride! She could sense the slightest movement of your hands on the reins and almost instinctively reacted to your cues. Yes she could be moody and resist sometimes but her mouth was sensitive to the bridle and she would always give in to the commands.
When James uses the imagery of a horse to describe how we should also control our words, he is giving a clear picture of what submission to God might look like for us. Self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit! James declares that if you are able to control your words then you must surely be able to control the rest of your body as well. But if you don’t control your tongue the consequences are very extremely destructive!
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21)
As I am writing this, the area around Los Angeles, CA is on fire. Not a small isolated fire but rather an absolutely apocalyptic blaze that is consuming everything in its path. They still don’t know how the fire started but it seems fairly certain that at least some of the fire was caused by arson. Someone started a small fire that spread and became something so much larger and deadlier! Just like a small fire can become something that is completely out of control in a matter of minutes. You can also destroy a lot with just a few words. It’s amazing the destructive power of the tongue!
James makes it clear that this is not the way a Christian should speak. Our words should always build up, not tear down. Cursing, negativity, gossip, outbursts of wrath, lies, half-truths and the like should not be coming out of our mouths. Rather our words should bring life to the situations around us. If we have the self control to guide our words towards life, James says that we will be able to control the rest of our body as well.
Today, let’s reflect on our words. Are they words that God would approve of? Are they words of life? Do they build up those around us? Are we in control of our tongue? Let’s ask God to help us in these areas!
Years ago, I would get up early in the morning and head over to a friend's house. He had horses and we would go out riding as the sun was just making its way up over the horizon. I have some great memories from those rides! Often we would head towards a particular farm where we knew a fence needed mending. Most mornings we would find five to ten calves outside the fence munching in the fields of beans or corn. My buddy and I would quickly “cowboy up” and round up the cattle as if we were on a dude ranch in Texas! It was so much fun!
The key to steering the cattle back into the farmer's pasture was to be able to control the horse you were riding. I learned a lot about horsemanship during that time. Especially the importance of a good bridle! I learned about English vs. Western bridles, the different kinds of bits and most importantly how to use the reins effectively! You can basically move a horse anywhere you want if you know how to manipulate the reins correctly. But I’m pretty sure those horses taught me more than I ever taught them! Especially Xena. She was a beautiful little bay mare who could be very temperamental. She was fast as greased lightning, quicker than any horse I have ever ridden before or since, and extremely smart! If Easy, the big palomino quarter horse, was a pickup truck then Xena was a little sports car! She was so much fun to ride! She could sense the slightest movement of your hands on the reins and almost instinctively reacted to your cues. Yes she could be moody and resist sometimes but her mouth was sensitive to the bridle and she would always give in to the commands.
When James uses the imagery of a horse to describe how we should also control our words, he is giving a clear picture of what submission to God might look like for us. Self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit! James declares that if you are able to control your words then you must surely be able to control the rest of your body as well. But if you don’t control your tongue the consequences are very extremely destructive!
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21)
As I am writing this, the area around Los Angeles, CA is on fire. Not a small isolated fire but rather an absolutely apocalyptic blaze that is consuming everything in its path. They still don’t know how the fire started but it seems fairly certain that at least some of the fire was caused by arson. Someone started a small fire that spread and became something so much larger and deadlier! Just like a small fire can become something that is completely out of control in a matter of minutes. You can also destroy a lot with just a few words. It’s amazing the destructive power of the tongue!
James makes it clear that this is not the way a Christian should speak. Our words should always build up, not tear down. Cursing, negativity, gossip, outbursts of wrath, lies, half-truths and the like should not be coming out of our mouths. Rather our words should bring life to the situations around us. If we have the self control to guide our words towards life, James says that we will be able to control the rest of our body as well.
Today, let’s reflect on our words. Are they words that God would approve of? Are they words of life? Do they build up those around us? Are we in control of our tongue? Let’s ask God to help us in these areas!
PRAYER:
Father, please give me the self control that I need to control my mouth. Help me to speak kind gentle words to those around me. Help me to build others up with my words and to only say words that you approve of. Keep me from gossip, slander and wrath. Help me to speak words of life to those I come in contact with today. I pray this in the name of Jesus, the Word of God. Amen!
Father, please give me the self control that I need to control my mouth. Help me to speak kind gentle words to those around me. Help me to build others up with my words and to only say words that you approve of. Keep me from gossip, slander and wrath. Help me to speak words of life to those I come in contact with today. I pray this in the name of Jesus, the Word of God. Amen!
Posted in 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2025
Posted in the tongue, James 3, words, kindness, gentleness, the book of James
Posted in the tongue, James 3, words, kindness, gentleness, the book of James
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What I have come to realize, as I have grown older, that a few kind words could change and completely turn someone’s life around.
As a mom/grandma I feel it is not only what you say but also how you say it.