2025 Week 50 Filipino Value Focus: TAMING THE TONGUE

You may be familiar with the story of President Rodrigo Duterte and his encounter with God regarding the epithets he uses. On his way home from his visit to Japan, God spoke to him, saying that if he did not stop uttering epithets, He would cause the plane he was riding on to drop. According to Proverbs, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." God is no respecter of any person; even the rulers of the nations are under Him, and they must abide in Him, even in His Word and Commandments. His Words are true and alive. 

The Holy Bible has a lot to say about taming the tongue and what our tongues, or languages, bring forth. We are warned of the dangers of untamed tongues--"So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell."

Furthermore, it is said in Proverbs that, "The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off." Another from the Book of Proverbs, saying that, "A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit." Psalms tells us that, "The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice." There is much that we can learn from the Scriptures about controlling and subduing our tongue, so that we may experience an abundant life here on earth. 

How do profane words come out of our mouths? The cliché "Garbage in, garbage out" may lead us to the answer. What we take in is essential because it determines what we say—the movies we watch, the music we hear, the books we read, and the people we listen to. If filthy things surround us, then we expect foul things to come out of our mouths. But if we take in wisdom, pleasant music, sound advice, and Words from God, out of our mouths will come forth rivers of living water that will educate, build up, reform, revive, and restore. 

There is power in our tongue, so whatever we say, it will become. Just as we are created in the image and likeness of God, every word we utter has the corresponding effect. When God said, "Let there be light!" and there was light, it illustrates that what we say in the now, the present 'be,' is already done as in the past 'was.' Every release of words from our mouths has the power to change atmospheres and bring forth life. We must then be careful with the words we utter, but better yet, let truth, right words, good tidings, and life spring forth from our mouths and hearts, for out of the abundance of our hearts, the mouth speaks.

Just like the President, let us ask God to deliver us from lying lips, deceitful tongues, and profane language, not by might, not by power, but by the Spirit of the Living God.

ACTION PLAN

1. Reflect on the words coming out of our mouths. Carefully weigh if there are more positive words or if there are more negative words coming out of it. If it is the latter, devise ways and steps to correct and improve.
   
2. Resolve not to speak words that will degrade one's morals. Speak positive words to instruct and encourage others to do the same. Make it a priority to gracefully welcome every client with positive words and deliver services with utmost excellence. 
   
3. Continue to declare good things to yourself, your family members, coworkers, agency, and the nation. Note any changes in them and in the atmosphere. Keep releasing the good tidings until you see its manifestations.

DECLARATION

We are God's people, the salt and light of the earth. We are His voice in the land. Out of our mouths shall spring blessings, good tidings, encouragement, and health. We put a bar against anything that will defile us from the inside. We say "No" to unwholesome speeches and say "Yes" to words that build and edify.​

​PRAYER

Dear Lord, forgive us if we have used our mouths to curse, gossip, slander, and defile others. Cleanse us from the blunders of the past, just as you have cleansed the mouth of the prophets; cleanse us from any unwholesome talk. Use our mouths to build, edify, and encourage. Make us the channels of your peace and blessings through the words coming out of our mouths. These we ask in the name of our Lord, amen.​

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