The Power of the Tongue - The Rudder That Sinks Ships

Scripture:

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

— Proverbs 18:21

Additional Reading: Proverbs 12:18, Matthew 12:34–37, James 3:5–6

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Intro:

Have you ever said something and immediately wished you could take it back?

A careless comment. A sharp response. A word spoken in anger.

Or maybe you’ve been on the receiving end—listening as someone’s words tore you down, crushed your spirit, or left wounds that lingered long after the conversation ended.

Words are never neutral. They land. They shape. They leave marks.

Scripture does not exaggerate when it warns us about the power of the tongue.

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The Tongue Can Build up or Destroy

Do you ever say something and feel the weight of it immediately?

A sentence spoken too fast.

A joke that cut deeper than you intended.

A word released in anger that couldn’t be pulled back.

Or maybe you’ve been on the other side—standing there while someone’s words dismantled you piece by piece.

A rant.

A careless comment.

A sentence that lingered long after the conversation ended.

Words don’t disappear when they leave our mouths.

They land.

They shape.

They wound—or they heal.

Scripture never treats words lightly, because God never does.

The tongue is small, but it is powerful.

Like a rudder on a ship, it determines direction.

And when it’s misused, it doesn’t just steer—it sinks.

The tongue starts wars.

It spreads gossip.

It destroys reputations.

It fractures families and churches and friendships.

All from something so small.

But that same tongue can also do something holy.

It can speak truth when lies are loud.

It can bring hope to someone barely holding on.

It can lift the broken.

It can draw hearts toward the Kingdom of God.

The fall in the garden began with words—deceptive ones.

A lie spoken softly.

A truth twisted just enough to sound reasonable.

And humanity has felt the damage ever since.

But when Jesus faced temptation, He didn’t argue.

He didn’t lash out.

He didn’t improvise.

He answered with the Word of God.

Truth against lies.

Light against deception.

And that same power is available to us.

Because our words are never just sounds—they reveal the heart behind them.

We don’t struggle with speech because our mouths are the problem.

We struggle because the heart needs surrender.

An untamed tongue exposes fear, pride, anger, and impatience.

A surrendered tongue reflects Christ.

God does not call us to silence.

He calls us to speech that is submitted.

So pause before you speak.

Measure your words.

Ask who they serve.

Because every sentence becomes an offering—

either to the flesh,

or to God.

Give Him your words.

Let your tongue build instead of destroy.

Heal instead of harm.

Glorify instead of gratify.

And watch how God uses something so small

to do something eternal.

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Reflection Questions

• What words have you spoken recently that revealed what is truly going on in your heart?

  
  

• Are your words more often used to defend yourself—or to reflect Christ?

  
  

• If God listened to every sentence you spoke today, would your speech draw people closer to Him or push them further away?

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Closing Prayer

Father God,

Forgive me for the careless words I have spoken—words that wounded, divided, or reflected my flesh instead of Your Spirit.

Search my heart and expose what is not surrendered to You.

Purify my motives, refine my speech, and place a guard over my mouth.

Teach me to pause, to listen, and to speak only what brings life, truth, and honor to Your name.

May my words no longer serve my emotions, my pride, or my fear—but serve You alone.

Take control of my tongue and use it to heal, to build, and to glorify You.

I surrender my words to You completely.

In the name of Jesus Christ.