Tongue Taming~

Thursday greetings~

A few months after I started wearing braces, the orthodontist analyzed the way I swallow and

determined I was a "tongue thruster."  My tongue would always hit the back of my front teeth

while I was swallowing, and this was causing my slight overbite. 

The solution was a little metallic device – don’t know what  it’s called – that was glued onto the

back of upper teeth.  Whenever I swallowed, my overbite-causing tongue would go up there and

be harshly pricked by the needle-like pincers that were attached to that device.  The orthodontist

called it a “deterrent.”  I called it for what it truly was: “Child abuse!”  Sometimes it would make

my tongue bleed.  Poor little Yenisita.

But guess what?  It didn’t take long for my tongue to go to the roof of my mouth when

swallowing, leaving the front teeth alone.  Before I even realized it, it became a habit; I didn’t

even have to think about it before I swallowed.  My tongue had been tamed to do the right thing.

There was a payoff too; I still have most of my teeth:

   

From a spiritual perspective it is a good idea to have a tamed tongue too.

1 Peter 3:8-12 "Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble...no exceptions. No retaliation.  No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless  -  that's your job, to bless.  You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing.  Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, here's what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful...God looks on all this with approval...responding well to what He's asked."

God intended for us to use our tongues to bless others; He says it's our job.  And we will get paid well for doing our job. We will get blessed ourselves, our days will fill up with good, and God will respond well to what He's asked.  

If only there were a device that could be attached to our mouth that would redirect our tongue when it's about to say something mean or critical.  Well, there kind of is.

Psalm 141:3 “O Lord, set a guard at my mouth.  Keep watch over the door of my lips.”   

God wants to reward us so much for using our tongues wisely that He will even help us do it!    

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You are right.  Set a guard at our mouths today, and keep watch over the door of our lips because life is better when we speak beautiful things.  Our days are good when there’s nothing evil or hurtful in our language.  We are blessed when we run after peace.  And it’s all because You respond to us.  Thank You for all the help You give us.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~