by Linda Evans Shepherd
Picture the disciples, lingering in Jerusalem as Jesus instructed.
Fresh from the Resurrection, Jesus had spent forty days with them, unveiling how the law of Moses, the Psalms, and the Prophets all pointed to Him as the Son of God, destined to die for humanity’s sins before triumphantly rising from the grave.
Then on the day Jesus ascended into heaven, He left His friends to wait until they were “endued with power from on high.”
Encouraged by the knowledge that Jesus was the awaited Savior, the men spent much of their time in the temple, worshiping God.
But one morning, while they were still in the Upper Room, the Holy Spirit descended upon them with tongues of fire and the disciples burst into the streets, praising God in languages they didn’t understand. Imagine the astonishment of these visitors to Jerusalem as they witnessed uneducated fishermen and tax collectors, the very followers of Jesus, glorifying God’s name in the languages of the pilgrims.
Imagine having the power of God set your tongue on fire, and speaking only words of worship, love, and peace. That would be nice, but sometimes the words that come out of our mouths are not so holy.
James, one of the disciples, warns about another kind of fire that can consume our tongues, one fueled by hell itself, capable of harming others and destroying lives.
He writes, “But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.” (James 3:8-9 NKJV).
If you’re like me, there have been times in your life where you are horrified by the burning arrows that fly out of your mouth.
A flaming word to a loved one, a sarcastic word to a colleague, a critical word to a friend, a careless taking of the Lord’s name in vain. How can we stop this flow of destructive words?
Is the solution to muzzle ourselves? But then how would we eat, pray, or offer encouragement to others?
Perhaps the answer lies in yielding more of us to the Holy Spirit, saturating ourselves with God’s Word, which is alive with His Spirit, and learning to flow not just in peace but in the love of God himself.
Yet, even as new creations, filled with the Holy Spirit, we can still stumble into hurtful speech. When you find yourself regretting your words, pray this:
Dear Lord,
Forgive me for using Your name in vain and for hurting others with my words. Forgive me for aligning my words with the enemy’s plans for my life. Instead, fill me with Your love and the power of Your Spirit, so I may speak the language of love through Your indwelling presence. Guard my mouth and when I speak evil words or hurtful remarks, grant me the humility to repent to You and to apologize to others.
In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Linda is a best-selling prayer author, publisher of Leading Hearts magazine, founder of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association and YouTuber. Visit her website at: gottopray.com and lindashepherd.com.
