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"But no one can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."
(James 3:8)
The Book of James says much about the explosive and detrimental power of that small muscle between our teeth: the tongue. Solomon, in Proverbs 12:18, addresses the dual power of the words we speak: "There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health." Some pierce others with their words and destroy; however, others, the wise, build up and promote life and health.
I read a book by a pastor in Georgia years ago that still resonates with me today. The pastor tells a true story of the deadly power of words: how he had one of his dreams killed by harsh words. While trying out for the junior high basketball team, he made it to the final round of cuts. Anyone who has competed in junior high knows that it is such a big deal, because you want to at least make the team, and you feel like your life will be over if you don't. He took a shot in a scrimmage, and he missed everything: the backboard, goal, net, etc. The coach put the curse of words on him by telling him he was a loser. This pastor said he never picked up a basketball again after that. His vision was crushed, and he was scarred by the harsh words of a coach.
Most of us have had something similar happen to us. Someone—a parent, a coach, a relative, or a teacher—said something to you, perhaps out of anger, and it has deeply wounded and impacted you. The best way to get victory over this curse is to replace it with the truth of what God says about you in Scripture. I encourage you to memorize verses like Zephaniah 3:17: "The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
Because you were cursed with words, you may be perpetuating the cycle by cursing others with your words. You may be the one putting the curse of words on your family or friends. Proverbs 29:11 warns against us venting, "A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back." And Proverbs 10:19 states, "In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise."
If you have committed these verbal crimes, you should go and say two powerful words; genuinely say, "I'm sorry." Then take to heart what the psalmist prayed in Psalm 141:3, "Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips."
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