The TONGUE (a reminder)

I often state that we must be prepared to face the consequences of every decision we make. We also need to remind ourselves that the words we speak also evoke consequences. In Matthew 15 Jesus reminded us that it is what comes out from our mouth that has the power to make us unclean. I have to constantly remind myself that my tongue has the power of life and death(PROV 18 v 21), the power to curse or bless, to encourage or dishearten.
JAMES 1 v 26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. (oops!)
JAMES 3 v 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. (oops ! again)
PS 39 v 1 says "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth “
However, But we must remember that what we speak is the harvest of what we have been thinking
This is why we need not simply to put a guard over our mouth but be vigilant in bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. ( 2 Cor 10 v 5)
Once words are spoken they cannot be taken back. It is so easy to speak judgment and criticism and negativity. It is all too easy to put people down and to discourage them. I believe that unkind, unhelpful words seriously affects our personal joy, peace and relationship with God. (and that includes private conversations, you may fool yourselves into thinking your comments are private, but GOD hears. Remember James 1?)
May the Lord bless us and keep us, may the Lord God shine upon us and be gracious to us and give us peace; and may we do likewise to all we meet(Num 6v24). Let us build each other up in our most Holy faith and throw personal pride and ego out of the window. Every time we catch ourselves being judgmental or unkindly critical, pronounce a blessing, thus putting Gods name upon that person or situation as God commanded Moses.
So, may the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable to the Lord our God. (Ps 19 v 14.