(My grandmother, Anna Daisy Siemens, wrote poetry and prose. This devotion was written and published for Devotions for the Deaf in 1994)II Timothy 2:16 – Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.Matthew explains that all words flow from our hearts — good and evil. “By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:37 – For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.). Paul chided idle women who became gossips and busybodies (I Timothy 5:13 – Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to.) and James, in his practical letter of Christianity says, “Our religion is worthless if we cannot control our tongues.” (James 1:26 – Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.)Impetuous Peter had a tongue problem. It wagged before his brain was in gear. Jesus called him a stumbling block to his cause. (Matthew 16:23 – Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”) Although he confessed Jesus as the Christ and offered to build three shelter on the Mount, he denied Jesus three times.If there is hope for this man, we too, can learn to control our tongues. How thankful we are that this Spirit-filled man points us to the morning star…in our hearts. (II Peter 1:19 – We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.)Prayer: Lord, watch my heart and forgive me my sins so that my praises may always ring clear.
