Wednesday - The Letter of James (James 3:7-8)

Welcome to Daily Prayer as we continue our series in the book of James, focusing on chapter 3, verses 1 through 12. Today, we will examine the difference between taming a tongue and submitting it to the lordship of Christ. Follow along interactively as we:

Pause and praise,

Read and reflect on the scripture,

Ask God to speak through His word, and

Yield in obedience.

Begin by pausing to set your focus upon the Lord, our Creator, the One who spoke galaxies into existence and calls the stars by name. Remember, He has given you breath and formed your tongue.

You were made by Him and for Him. Will you take a moment to consecrate your tongue to Him, that the words you speak can bring honor and glory to His name?

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty. For all that is in the heavens and in the earth is Yours. I choose to praise You, Lord, with these lips and to exalt Your great name over my life and my circumstances.

Let's read and reflect on today's scripture found in James 3, verses 7 and 8:

"For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."

In other passages, our speech is likened to the poisonous venom of vipers, and the word used for poison is often translated as fury, wrath, or anger. We learned earlier in our study of James that man's anger will never produce the righteousness of God. Once spewed forth, that deadly poison wreaks destruction and may cause those affected to be shut down or bound to the lies of the enemy.

Lord, I ask You to show me the ways I have sought to tame my tongue rather than surrender it to You and trust You to speak through me. I repent of attempting to manage my sin rather than turning away from it. In the name of Jesus, close the door I have opened to anger, and by Your blood, seal it shut.

Remind me of those I have wounded with angry, hurtful words or piercing accusations. Forgive me, Father, and please break off the power of those harmful words. Bring healing to those I have wounded.

For those in our body who are bound by the lies of the enemy today because of the damaging words they heard in the past, would You visit them and set them free with Your powerful truth?

As we listen to the passage again, allow the Holy Spirit to highlight any word or phrase that you might want to linger with for a moment.

"For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."

Though my throat can be as an open grave and my tongue potentially pour forth poison, I yield today to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in my speech. I believe the words You spoke to Moses can be true of me, Father: "I, even I, will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to say." I consecrate my lips to You and ask that You teach me what to say.

Lord, please write this memory verse on my heart and cause it to become true of me:

"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." — James 1:19

Keep my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking deceit.

In the name of Jesus,

amen.