The Bible says whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles (Proverbs 21:23 KJV).
As Christians, it is imperative that we develop effective ways to communicate with each other.
Taming the Tongue
The tongue is like a fire!
If it is not controlled, it will run wild, destroying everything in its path. The tongue is difficult to tame and will lead you into sin and ultimate destruction.
The uncontrolled tongue is deceitful and deadly.
It delights in lies and hypocrisy. It will speak words of blessings outwardly, but inwardly speaks words of curse.
You are not defiled by what goes into your mouth, but by what comes out of your mouth. An evil heart will speak evil because out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
The tongue is like an unruly fire full of evil and deadly poison. But this unruly fire can be tamed.
How We Can Control Our Speech
We control our tongue through wisdom.
This wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy (James 3).
This wisdom is divine, and you can only receive it from God.
Tips for Controlling Our Tongue
Use Humility in Speech
Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth, for the Lord is the God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.
1 Samuel 2:3 NKJV
Study, Speak, Meditate, and Practice the Word of God
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Joshua 1: 8 NKJV
Sing Songs that Uplift You
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.
Psalms 89:1 NKJV
Praise God Continuously
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psalms 34:1 NKJV
Fill Your Heart with Laughter
When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad.
Psalms 126:1-3 NKJV
Ask God to Guard and Watch Your Tongue
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Psalms 141:3 NKJV
Restrain Your Tongue in the Presence of Evil
I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked are before me.
Psalms 39:1 NKJV
Speak About God’s Goodness
My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and Your salvation all the day, for I do not know their limits.
Psalms 71:15 NKJV
Speak the Truth
For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.
Proverbs 8: 7-8 NKJV
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:29-32 NKJV
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
Psalms 19:14 NKJV
How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Psalms 119:103 NKJV
Over to You!
How can you tame your tongue?
Share with me other methods of controlling the tongue.
Additional References: Numbers 23:16; Deuteronomy 8:3; 18:18; 30:14; 31:19; Psalms 36:3 Psalms 62:4; Psalms 71:8; Psalms 109:30; Psalms 149:6; Proverbs 12:14; 13:2-3; 15:23; 16:23;18:7; 21:23; Ecclesiastes 5:6; Isaiah 59:21; Matthew 12:34; 13:35; 15:8-18; 21:16; Colossians 3:8.
Becoming the Oil and Wine 
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