A bridled tongue, the writer of James says, is slow to speak.
A bridled tongue isn’t destructive.
I caught and locked mine behind the white cage.
When it attempted to spill something,
I twisted and rolled it, securing it between my teeth.
Order! I mumbled, teeth clenched.
Yes, Law and order. I call you to order!
Tongue be still. Lips stay sealed.
And when you speak, give life, grow trees.
When you utter words,
be wise, be nice.
Rebuke in love.
For a gentle answer, the Holy Book says, does not stir up wrath.
Lips stay sealed. Tongue, please remain behind the cage.
© 2025 Enobong O’wunmi.
Wordspiration:
Have you ever asked God to remove your ability to speak hurtful words? That is, you wish he would “pluck out your tongue or even scrape off the layer that likes to spit out scathing words.” I’ve done that again and again. The answer, then, is to hold back my words until I can speak in a way that is beneficial to the listener.
This poem is an honest reflection of a recent confession I made to God about the power of my words when one day, my opinions flowed freely(and hurtfully!). I was unstoppable; words gushed forth, and I couldn’t hold back my strong views. Then the Lord, in mercy, used someone to rebuke me. Only then did the full weight of my offensive words hit me, prompting my repentance before the Lord.
Have you also reconsidered your words recently?
How do you speak about the people in your life, both to their faces and behind their backs?
How do you speak to your spouse, children, helpers, gardeners, strangers on social media, people in traffic and servers at the till, restaurants, etc?
How do you analyse leaders and political situations in your nation?
How do you speak about your neighbourhood, neighbours, body, health, etc?
I plead with you, like I do to myself, to carefully choose your words. Watch what passes through our heart/mind. (Proverbs 4:23). Be quick to hear and slow to speak and slow to get angry (James 1:19. Read to verse 21). Remember that the tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21).
Let the Holy Spirit guide you.
Today, I ask the Lord to help you and me keep our tongues from evil. When we run into situations that stir up angry emotions, may we remember that “a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs anger. “
Prayer:
Lord, we know we cannot achieve all this by our strength, so we ask you to help us realise that it’s wiser to be quiet without having an opinion about everything. May we know when to speak and when to bridle the tongue. We ask (when we speak) that our words will soothe the heart, give life and edify people, in Jesus’ name, amen.
“The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 15: 4 NIV.
