September 9, 2023 … A Bit and Bridle …

September 9, 2023 …  A Bit and Bridle  …    

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from a chorus of kids singing … The Tongue … poignantly, yet powerfully ,singing of how our tongues reflect the attitude of our hearts.  

A bit and a bridle on our tongues ... 

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Highlight Passage: … James 3:3 [NLT] … 

3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth.   

… Our tongue compared to small bit used to control a horse.       

               

Highlight Passage (Context): … James 3:1-11 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… James shows how difficult it is to tame the tongue of mankind.                                                  

===============                                                                 .                                                                                                                                             

Reference Passage: … Psalm 141:3 [NLT] …  

3 Take control of what I say, Lord, and guard my lips.     

…King David sings a prayer for God to take control of what he says.      

Reference Passage … Proverbs 21:23 [NLT] …  

23 Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.  

… God’s warning to all believers to watch what we say.      

Reference Passage: … Matthew 15:10-11 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches His followers about being careful what comes out of our mouths as our words measure our surrender to the LORD.  

Reference Passage: … Luke 6:45 [NLT] …  

45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.  

… Jesus teaches His followers that our words flow from our heart.      

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:29 [NLT] …  

29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.    

… The Apostle Paul exhorts fellow Christians to stay only those things which are encouraging or edifying to others.    

                                                                                                                                        

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Jennifer Benson Schuldt   … AT THIS LINK …  related a story about her friend teaching her daughter about riding a horse, showing that the bit and bridle (see photo) are very important in controlling the horse.         

And that was also the word-picture used often in God’s word (see Scriptures above) to show the importance of controlling what we say as a reflection of what’s in our hearts and how deeply we’re surrendered to let our love of God be reflected in what we think, say, and do.  

I pray we all will let God’s Spirit put a bridle and a bit on our tongues today and to let anything and everything we say be a reflection of our surrender to let God’s grace guide our lives.       

My THANKFULNESS:... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for helping me to control my tongue today.    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to speak only those words which reflect Your Spirit, Lord, today.  … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.