Latest Devotion
Controlling our Words
By: John Carrigan
Friday, July 17, 2026
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29
Of all the things we might struggle with, controlling our words may be the toughest. If you're like me, you've spoken words in the heat of the moment but later wished you could take them back. I know I’ve said something, and as soon as it left my mouth, I regretted it. Sadly, some of my worst words were spoken to the people I love the most, my wife and kids.
James 3 gives us examples of how a small thing can affect something much bigger: a bit in a horse's mouth turns the whole animal, and a small rudder can turn a massive ship. God's Word says a "little thing" like our tongue is able to do something similar. Just like a forest fire can be set by a small spark, a single piece of gossip can cause incredible damage. When our words are negative and critical, the hurt they cause can last a very long time.
It’s like a contradiction. The same mouth we use to praise God can also be used to curse others. Our words are like a window to our soul, and sometimes the view isn't pretty. Usually, the real problem isn't our tongue; it’s our heart. We can't tame our tongues, but God can! We can try to control our words ourselves, and we can plant seeds of kindness and water them with good intentions, but real, lasting transformation will only come from God. When God changes our tongue, He'll get the process started by changing our hearts.
But our part (our first step) is to recognize our need. Then, we must humbly approach God and tell Him, "I can't do this on my own God, I need your help." To win the battle, we must ask Him to set a guard over our mouth. But it must be a daily, moment-by-moment surrender, letting the Holy Spirit do the work that we can't. He will change our hearts, and He will turn our salty words into springs of fresh water. It won't always be easy, but over time, we'll be able to better control our words.
To put Ephesians 4:29 into practice, we must completely surrender ourselves to God and allow Him to have His way with us, and in us.