James 3:3-12

3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.


The tongue is a harsh topic for me. Not huge on talking about or gossiping, but in anger. It's one of my faults that I struggle with. I can never keep my mouth shut at the right times and when anger rises I have a hard time at controlling what comes out. It's a problem I have and this verse makes me realize it even more. I think I get it from my dad, but that's no excuse, just an observation. I'm trying to work on it. I think one step is to memorize some of those verses up there. That way I can do the whole, "I have God's word hidden in my heart..so I won't turn away from Him." (No idea if those are together, but the principle is the same.) And then, I don't know, I just know that it's not OK for me to stay the same as I was before. This can't be. And I'm going to be more careful about what I say to people, and what I allow myself to dwell on in conversation. Idk. aah. I just don't like seeing people being hurt without them knowing it & the horrible things that can come from not confronting them.