{"id":2356,"date":"2011-10-10T17:17:32","date_gmt":"2011-10-10T21:17:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.fbclafayette.org\/?p=2356"},"modified":"2014-07-21T10:15:56","modified_gmt":"2014-07-21T14:15:56","slug":"the-tongue-how-to-discipline-a-fire-part-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.faithlafayette.org\/church\/the-tongue-how-to-discipline-a-fire-part-4\/","title":{"rendered":"The Tongue: How to Discipline a Fire (Part 4)"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the previous posts, we’ve talked about the fact that controlling the tongue is a true test of one\u2019s spirituality (part 1<\/a>)! We mentioned the destructive uses of the tongue (part 2<\/a>) and the need to replace the destructive tongue with a disciplined tongue (part 3<\/a>).<\/p>\n

But the question is, \u201cHow<\/em> do I do that?\u201d Consider the following principles (adapted from Disciplines of a Godly Man<\/a>, by Kent Hughes).<\/p>\n

Helpful Steps to Discipline Your Tongue<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Refrain from focusing only on the truth<\/strong>. Instead, faithfully speak the truth in love.
    \nEphesians 4:15: But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ.<\/li>\n
  2. Refrain from being party to or a conduit for gossip<\/strong> \u2013 instead, seek to protect others and solve problems in a godly fashion.
    \nProverbs 26:20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer (gossip), contention quiets down.<\/li>\n
  3. Refrain from insincere flattery<\/strong> \u2013 instead, genuinely seek to believe the best about others and communicate that consistently to them and to others.
    \nProverbs 26:28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth works ruin.<\/li>\n
  4. Refrain from being critical<\/strong> of others and\/or cutting them down \u2013 instead, build them up and be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
    \nJames 4:11 Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother, or judges his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge of it.<\/li>\n
  5. Refrain from degrading humor<\/strong> \u2013 instead, speak words that \u201cedify\u201d (build up); speak words that are pleasing to God.
    \nEphesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.<\/li>\n
  6. Refrain from sarcasm<\/strong> \u2013 instead, be loving and kind and truthful; remember words can help or hurt!
    \nColossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.<\/li>\n
  7. Refrain from reactionary, explosive words<\/strong> \u2013 instead, think before you speak; in the heat of the battle, chose your words carefully and make sure they are filled with \u201cgrace.\u201d
    \nEphesians 4:32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.<\/li>\n
  8. Refrain from the downward spiral<\/strong> or \u201ccoasting\u201d in your Christian life \u2013 instead, seek to grow by identifying sinful habits of thinking and action that God wants to change and then replace them with obedience to the Word.
    \n2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.<\/li>\n
  9. Refrain from procrastinating<\/strong> in attempting to solve the problem \u2013 instead, seek to solve today\u2019s problems today.
    \nEphesians 4:26 . . . do not let the sun go down on your anger,<\/li>\n
  10. Refrain from focusing on the other person\u2019s problems<\/strong> \u2013 instead, first seek to handle your part of the problem and return good for evil even if the other person won\u2019t handle their part.
    \nMatthew 7:5 “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    In the previous posts, we’ve talked about the fact that controlling the tongue is a true test of one\u2019s spirituality (part 1)! We mentioned the destructive uses of the tongue (part 2) and the need to replace the destructive tongue with a disciplined tongue (part 3). But the question is, \u201cHow do I do that?\u201d… read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2454,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[4438,4469,4260,4425,4424],"yoast_head":"\nThe Tongue: How to Discipline a Fire (Part 4) - Faith Church Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.faithlafayette.org\/church\/the-tongue-how-to-discipline-a-fire-part-4\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Tongue: How to Discipline a Fire (Part 4) - Faith Church Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In the previous posts, we’ve talked about the fact that controlling the tongue is a true test of one\u2019s spirituality (part 1)! 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