So much is at stake in what we say.  That includes what we write, post, paint or sign!  Chris Brannon continues in our Proverbs series by showing us the power of the tongue and the damage, or good, that it can do.  Tongues can be the death of marriages, families, friendships, churches, careers, hopes, understanding, reputations, kingdom initiatives and governments.  Tongues can also make marriages sweet, families strong and churches healthy.  They can give hope to the despairing, advance understanding and spread the gospel.

The source of all things said is the heart.  Chris gives us some indicators of a heart filled with evil.  One indicator is critical comments out of a heart filled with hurt and discontentedness.  Gossip and slander coming out of a heart of pride or jealousy is another indicator.  Harsh, cutting comments come from a bitter heart.  Envy and covetous remarks come from an ungrateful heart and judgmental comments come from a self-righteous heart.  Words from a transformed heart are gracious, reconciling, encouraging, truthful, joyous and filled with love.

Chris talks how speaking evil comes in several ways.  You may be doing these things without even realizing it!  Do you gossip or talk in backbiting?  Do you slander or are you rude?  These are way of talking that tear down.  So how do we clean up our mouth?  Chris gives us a list of ten ways to clean up our mouths:

1. Fill your heart with grace by soaking in your Bible.
2. Every day pray the prayer found in Psalm 141:3.
3. Make your mouth a fountain of life.
4. Be slow to speak.
5. Encourage more than you critique.
6. Strive to speaking 100% truthfully.
7. Seek opportunities to speak kind, tenderhearted words.
8. Say something affectionate to a loved one at an unexpected time.
9. Purpose to only speak words that are good for building up and give grace.
10. Be a person whose mouth is full of life.