Taming the Tongue: How to speak truth gently…

The Word of God has a lot to say about how we talk to others. It does not mean we shy away from speaking truth, but to do so gently. I am not great at this : )

“Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” — Proverbs 21:23

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” — Ephesians 4:29

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” — Proverbs 15:1

“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.” — Psalm 34:13 (repeated in 1 Peter 3:10)

“A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse one breaks the spirit.” — Proverbs 15:4

"It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” — Matthew 15:11

“From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” — James 3:10

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” — James 1:19-20

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” — Colossians 4:6

“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!” — James 3:5

“For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.” — James 3:2