...and the tongue is a flame of fire.
it is a whole world of wickedness,
corrupting your entire body.
it can set your whole life on fire,
for it is set on fire by hell itself.
James 3:6
*Lord* i pray that you will be with me,
that i shall speak the words you would want me to speak,
and that my words shall be spoken the way you would want them to be spoken.
this verse in James chapter 3 is very important to me.
James is basically saying to me that it's important to be careful and accurate
with what i say, because words can get quickly out of control, they can spread and destroy just like a wild fire. words can have a horrible continuous effect and destructive influence in others' lives and my own.
now, i've been crushed with words and i've fought wild fires and neither of these experiences have been pleasant. but for certain, i've burned a few bridges in my young life.
i often have a tough time choosing the right words especially in a conflict. although it is not always my intention, i seem to live a dramatic life.
i constantly find myself in a battle of some sort, constantly under pressure.
i've said the prayer above hundreds of times before going head-to-head with an enemy, preparing for an argument with a girl-friend, or even recently dialing my dad's number for the first time in 2 years.
it's quick, to the point and i always feel much better and extremely confident immediately after i say these words.
we all face trials, everyone has been or will be placed in a situation in which they'll need to talk their way out. we've all been deeply hurt or effected by careless words. and we've all seen long-term results in some of our words towards others. your tongue is capable of devastating destruction. choose your words carefully. and so James 3:6 is a verse i have book-marked in my bible that i read quite often.
In a list
A contest entry
- A Favorite by debilynn.
1500 points, ended September 15, 2008, 17 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
break out the shotguns, we're riding to town...
Comments
1 - 7 of 7
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it seems I've been been burned quite a bit lately, and it's been hard not to burn someone back, I'm really struggling with that...
reading this again helped clear my head a little, thank you. -
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keep praying about it. i have to do it every day too.
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I picked up my bible today, it had been awhile, and I found these verses and it reminded me of your poem, so I came back and re-read what you wrote, and it's sticking with me. Thanks friend.
James 1:19-20
"So, then my beloved brethen, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God." -
a marvelous write. you did a great job with this scripture. words can be used for good and for bad and sometimes they can't be taken back. thank you for sharing this with me. i enjoyed the read. keep writing poet! God bless you always
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I said something that burned someone this week, actually. I was feeling pretty bad about it and so I just opened up a Bible and I came to this same passage. It was relieving in a way to remember that this is something that everyone deals with. My dad's always told me it's in my blood to get into trouble with words. But of course I'm not the only one. I liked this.
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I love this darling.
so very true, every word.
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Wow! Are you right! Words burn, you often can't take them back. And the news of them does spread like wildfire. Even in the service of God, one's tongue can slip; then all hell breaks lose. Read my poem in this contest for an example.
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