Watch Your Words: A Devotional on Taming Your Tongue - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - March 24, 2026
“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3, NKJV).
As Christ followers, our speech should reflect Him and His ways and be seasoned with grace, humility, and love. If we confess our faith in Christ, there should be evidence of our changed speech as well as our changed life and behavior. When people meet us, they should hear and see something different than the rest of the world, which does not follow the Lord.
I admit, I struggle to tame my tongue, especially when I am caught up in my emotions and/or sleep-deprived or hungry. My flesh wants to rule, and one way that happens in my life is how I am wielding my words.
If there were one verse from the Bible that I should have tattooed under my eyelids, it would be from Psalm 141:
“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3, NKJV).
This has become a constant prayer for me, especially as I am seeing how my speech is influencing my children. Children are little sponges, and they absorb everything we say and do. My oldest is becoming a master of sarcasm thanks to me. I see my sinful speech tendencies in my children, and I don’t want these habits to form into consistent behavior. Out of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34), so our words are a reflection of what is going on in our hearts. We should pause when we see ungodly speech become consistent in our lives, repent, and ask God to help us guard our mouths and choose our words wisely, or to know when to be silent.
Even in disagreements, we should continue to speak with a heart of love for others and not use profanity or offensive remarks that would hurt or cause pain. We should also be careful not to grumble or complain or speak ungraciously about someone, but to use our tongue to proclaim our thankfulness unto the Lord, as well as speak good and edifying things of others. Taming the tongue is something we must grow in each day as the Lord sanctifies us. The good news is that we are never left on our own to walk in that type of self-control regarding our words. It is not something we can do apart from the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. The temptation to use our tongue for our own benefit and reputation is strong, but let us be quick to ask the Lord for His help daily as we continue to grow in the likeness of Him, especially in our speech.
Do you struggle with watching what you say? Let’s take time to repent for using our tongues to puff ourselves up above others, complain about our circumstances, or hurt others with painful words that cut deep to the heart. We need God’s help to control our tongues in times of strife or disagreement with others. Our words should be used to glorify and honor God and share His truth and gospel. Do your actions reflect your speech? By God’s grace, He can help your life match your profession of faith. Ask the Lord to help you guard your mouth and to choose your words wisely, or know when it’s best not to say anything at all. When your flesh wants to rule, God will always provide a way out every time you are tempted to use your words in a foolish way to hurt others or complain. Our desire should be to look more and more like Jesus in word and deed, and the more we spend time with Him and read His word, the more He will be faithful to work in our lives!
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Related Resource: Discouragement Often Comes after Calling | Ezra 3
In this episode of The Bible Explained, Jen walks through Ezra chapter 3 and explores the Israelites’ return from exile as they begin rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. She highlights how the people, though fearful and greatly outnumbered, chose unity, obedience, and worship by first rebuilding the altar and restoring sacrifices to God. The episode focuses on the emotional moment when the temple foundation is laid—some rejoice with gratitude while others weep, remembering the former temple’s glory. Through passages in Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah, Jen emphasizes God’s encouragement not to “despise small beginnings,” reminding listeners that God often works through humble starts, difficult seasons, and imperfect circumstances. The episode closes with a practical encouragement: when God calls people to a purpose, opposition and discouragement will come, but faithful perseverance and trust in God’s presence are what carry the work forward. If this podcast helped you understand the Bible in a clearer way, be sure to follow The Bible Explained on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
