The Power of the Tongue
Did you know that your tongue, the words that you utter from your mouth contribute greatly to the quality of life that you live? Apostle James in the Bible explains this truth with very good imagery let us read it in James 3:4-5 (NIV) says, “Or take ships as an example although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small radar wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boast. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The Voice version puts the same scripture this way, “Have you ever seen massive ships sailing effortlessly across the waters. Despite its immense size and the fact that it is propelled by mighty winds. A small radar directs the ship in any direction the pilot chooses. It's just the same with our tongues, it's a small muscle capable of marvelous undertakings. And do you know how many forest fires begin with a single ember from a small campfire?”
The scripture paints a vivid picture in our minds of the power of the tongue. Apostle James equates the tongue with the radar on a ship. Radar is a small piece of equipment that is usually hidden at the back and bottom of the ship. This is the instrument that influences the direction of the sail. It is interesting to note that the destination of a ship is not decided by the weight of the ship or the size of the ship. It is not what is happening in the seas, I mean the torrential winds and tides on the ocean that decides the final destination of the ship. It is that small piece of equipment at the back of the ship called the radar that controls the direction in which the ship goes. As long as the radar is working properly the ship will go in the desired direction regardless of its humongous size or the winds and tides prevalent on the ocean.
Ok let us come to the matter here, the apostle is not trying to teach oceanography. He is instructing us on how our lives work. The tongue works just like the radar works in the ships and ocean liners. The direction that our life goes is determined by our tongue. Many times we ascribe the course of our lives to prevailing circumstances. We blame people and all kinds of possible excuses for where we are and leave out the real force, the real culprit who is our own tongue. The way we speak plays a great deal in the direction our life goes. Many people are overly negative in their speech and communication and as a result, they are stuck in life. It is unfortunate that most of these people do not realize that their words are the key contributor to where they are and the kind of life they are experiencing. If someone is always talking about the negative their life will gravitate in the direction of the negative. Why? because the tongue is the radar of our lives. How we speak determines our direction and the ultimate destination of life.
The scripture is calling us to learn from the ship, though it is big, the direction it goes is not determined by the size of the ship or its environment but by the radar as the pilot steers. You may be going through problems and challenges, the scripture is teaching us that you can steer your life to a safe place using the radar of your tongue. The power is right in your mouth, your tongue. Choose from this day to begin to speak positively. Choose today to begin to speak life, to speak abundance, to speak promotion, and to speak health. Begin to steer and redirect your life in the direction you want to see it go by the power of speaking.
