We sometimes wish we could take back the words we say to people, oh, if we only could.  A glass of milk gets spilled.  Even if we picked up the table cloth to squeeze it  back into the glass and mop up every last drop that hit the floor we can never get it all back.  The souring smell that lasts for days is still there.  No matter how many times we mop the damage is done.

As humans we concentrate so much on what not to say that after a while those “not to say” thoughts get embedded into our hearts.  When provoked to anger, out comes all the “not to say” words.  Even the Bible in the book of James states that taming a wild animal is easier than the tongue.

James 3:7-8  All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

There’s hope.  God does not abandon us to deal with our own words.  Only God can control a tongue.  There are some valuable steps to take that can help.  The most essential step is for us to accept Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives.  Yes, this includes the tongue, desires and our whole being.  As we allow God’s thoughts to be ours, the words that come from our mouths will become more like Christ.  The next step is to confess to God that His divine understanding and help with self control is essential.  Once we acknowledge God can do all things He will assist us by sending quick convictions to our hearts.  Immediately before speaking damaging words there will be a tugging at the heart saying wait.

Silence can be our greatest defense.   Proverbs 17:28 tells us  Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.  As we train ourselves to listen to that tugging then to obey it we are heading in the right direction.  Changing what is in our hearts to what God wants it to be is the key.  Listening to God and obeying what He puts on our heart prevents a multitude of blunders.

Ephesians 4:29

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.