hushMy wife once told me, “You don’t have to say everything that pops into your mind!” My reply, “Honey… I don’t…” (Picture in your mind a look of horror coming across her face).

We’ve all been wounded by what people have said to and/or about us. It happens way too often in the church also. We’d ALL be better off if we held our tongue more often. Consider… (Seriously! Read these!!)

Pr 17:28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. (Comment: In other words, don’t say something and remove all doubt!)

Pr 10:19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

Pr 12:13 An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble.

Pr 13:3 Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

Pr 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Pr 15:4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Pr 18:23 The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly.

Pr 26:20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. 21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

Ja 3:2 We all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Eph 4:25 Having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Mt 12:34 Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

Maybe the best thing we all should do is HUSH more than we speak…