We are now up to chapter 3 in our James Bible Study! This chapter is a hard one for me. It points out so many flaws that I have.
I am a woman of many words and Proverbs 10:19 warns: “When words are many, sin is not absent. But he who holds his tongue is wise.”
James 3 says that NO man can tame the tongue. It is filled with deadly poison.
2 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)
I long to be a woman who is filled with life giving words of grace and mercy. But the reality is – I stumble in many ways (James 3:2). And when I stumble, it brings pain to others and to my own soul.
I long to be free of this problem in my life– to be so full of wisdom and self-control that I never ever stumble again!
I made a video back in 2010 and included my children and 2 object lessons that drive home the power of our tongue. If you struggle with controlling your tongue – this 2 minute video is for you.
{if you are reading this in an email or feed – click here to view the video}
The next time someone hurts you with their words – remember James 3:2 – “we ALL stumble.” Remember grace…because at any minute we are about to slip up too! As a matter of fact, often it’s right after someone else’s slip up, that I slip up 10 times worse.
What area do you tend to stumble in?
Do you struggle with gossip? Remember this:
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. ~ Proverbs 18:8
For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. ~Proverbs 26:20
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. ~Exodus 20:16
Do you struggle with a short temper or short patience? Remember this:
Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. ~James 1:19,20
A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back. ~Proverbs 29:11
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. ~Proverbs 15:1
Do you struggle with complaining? Remember this:
Do everything without complaining and arguing. ~Philippians 2:14
Show hospitality to one another without complaining. ~1 Peter 4:9
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds. ~James 1:2
Do you struggle with tearing others down or criticizing them? Remember this:
If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. ~Galatians 5:15
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ~Colossians 3:13
Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her. ~John 8:7
Do you struggle with lying? Remember this:
The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy. ~Proverbs 12:22
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ~John 8:44
The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace. ~Proverbs 13:5
Or do you struggle with just simply talking too much? (hand raised) Remember this:
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. ~ Proverbs 18:21
When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. ~Proverbs 10:19
Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. ~Proverbs 13:3
We will never master perfect control of our words. Forever we will need to daily align our heart with God’s word, filtering our thoughts and words through the strainer of God’s word and repenting when the words we speak hurt others.
But together – we can make great strides through the power of the Holy Spirit towards maturity and self-control. Let’s commit today to surrender the words we say to God.
**Chime In**
Which area do you struggle in the most?
Did any of these verses speak to you today?
Write it on a post-it note and memorize it. And don’t forget to teach this to your kids and grandkids!
Put God’s Word in your heart and let it transform your life.
(If you’d like to print this post so you can reflect on these verses later – here’s how: If you are on a desk top computer, you can print this post by clicking on the little green printer emblem below. If you are on a device – you can print this post by clicking on the green emblem below and then choosing the printer emblem from the directory.)
Walk with the King,
Thank you so much for sharing the verses. I struggle with complaining a lot. These verses will be good reminders for me.
I think I talk too much. I try to be thorough, but lose points in efficiency. It is particularly difficult, for example, with two completely different children who need things explained a little different or with my husband, who needs me to communicate in a way that is easy on his ears. Still growing in this area! Praise the Lord for the smalls ways He is helping me!!
Hi Ashley, couldn’t but help to smile as I read your post. Yes, let’s stay humble in all our ways; firstly to our creator, ourselves, our family. And when we do stumble, pick -up our Godly crown, pull back our shoulders and keep our eyes fixed on His loving gaze, never the less: we are his beloved bride!
I’m asking God to take a boasting spirit off my family in Hesys beautiful name.
I’m happy and blessed I found this website. Or, shall I say I was divinely brought here.
Amen
*Jesus beautiful nane*
Correction ⬆️
Hi Courtney, May God bless you in your service of teaching Gods Word to encourage discipline by keeping fit with meditating on His Word of Truth on a daily basis. Your testimony inspires, reflects and circles out to others. Isn’t it incredible that our God stays the same into eternity?!
Amen
Good morning all,
I am so blessed to have stumbled upon this site. However busy I am ( wife, mom, grandma, friend, and I work.) I am trying to keep up.
Today I’m in and I am grateful.
Now, as far as the question which area do you struggle in the most? Loaded question! At different times and situations: all of it!
God, thank you for being patient with me and please grant me the patience I need and desire to have for others. Thank you for your Son. Amen
Courtney!!!! I remember this video from back then!!!!! Oh how you’re children have grown!!!!!!
Thank you for sharing this. I struggle with my tongue. Daily praying to honor the Lord with my mouth instead of tearing someone down.
His
Shari
Courtney, I think your daughter is ready to take over for you. ; )
Good morning ladies, I thank God this morning for this lesson… I haven’t spent a lot of time on this site lately but decided to this morning and it really spoke to my heart!
Which area do I struggle most? Well, I definitely fall short in the area of talking too much and like Dee Purvis said different times and situations: all of them!
Our Father knows our needs and is so gracious, gentle and patient with us as He teaches us to be more like Him…thank you Courtney for your continued service and obedience!
God bless you ?
I never knew how much I struggled with having a short temper/patience as well as complaining until I became the full time caregiver of a relative who can be quiet difficult at times. I have definitely said words in my anger that I cannot take back and I deeply regret them now. I’m thankful for the Lord’s grace, mercy and truth that picks me back up again when I stumble instead of leaving me down and out. Thank you for sharing the video, Courtney. It was a powerful message and so cute too with your children!
I was convicted when I read this because I struggle with all of these to some degree. I am greatful that God is merciful and all I need to do is repent and humble myself and ask him to help me in this area. I think I struggle the most with gossiping about and criticizing those who have hurt me.
God,
I need your help to show the same mercy to those who hurt me that you show to me. Help me to use my tongue to lift people up instead of tearing them down. AMEN
Hi Ms. Courtney I am very blessed subscribing with your blog, how I hope I could write a blog also to share God’s word to be a blessing to others as well.
As to say I alway stumble, I struggle with lying lips, I know it is not honorable to mention here but I am taking the big leap of admitting that I am struggling with this area..how I hate myself for this.. Because I know every verses about it yet I am still in the process of overcoming this stronghold in my life .. I dont know what to do to avoid it.. Or not to be in fear to say the truth.. Feel so helpless
In school I struggled with wondering why I could not seem to live up to God’s standards and live a life honoring to him.
I kept reading Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. .
Then the writer repeats this a few chapters later in Hebrews 10:16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, says the Lord. I will put My Laws in their hearts and inscribe them on their minds.”
Then I read Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
And it just all clicked. I am not going to change myself. God is going to have to do a work in my heart and mind. He is the one who can transform me into His image.
Ok, so why isn’t He. Well I committed to deciding to diligently seek Him. That means getting rid of all the other garbage I am spending time with and prioritizing my time around worship music, teaching programs, the Word, small groups where I am in community with other believers, and service working for God’s kingdom.
As, I re-prioritized my life around God and started spending my energy seeking Him, He changed my heart and my mind and He indeed did write His laws on my heart and mind and began the work of transforming me into His image to be used to bring Him glory.
Hang in there do not grow weary in seeking the Lord to Him who overcomes God will grant the gift of eternal life.
Don’t listen to the lies that tell you to get discouraged. You are saved not by your own goodness, but by the will and power of the risen Christ Who has overcome all things.
God knows you are not good. None of us are good. But you are loved, accepted, and approved by God not because of your own righteousness, but because the righteousness of Christ has been credited to you.
We were enemies of God, yet He died for us. This shows us the great depth of love and power of God and for that He is worthy of worship and honor and worthy of our praise and humble submission.
Praying for you.
Thank you . i will write it in my notebook to read whenever I feel down about myself
I struggle with gossiping. If only I could think to pray for that person instead of tearing them down (behind their backs) what a difference for them and for me! Thanks for the very effective lesson.
I have always struggled with complaining and being critical. Several years ago in January I set 4 goals for the year. Three of them were to cultivate a thankful spirit, a rejoicing heart, and gracious speech. The idea being to replace the sinful patterns with godly ones. I did not arrive in a year so they have become permanent goals and the Lord is working in my life. I still have a long way to go but He is faithful.
Psalm 17:3b I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
I use to struggle with complaining but God has really worked on me and transformed my thinking and mouth in that area. However, I find myself being critical, not of most people, but of two individuals in particular. I will keep these scriptures in mind when the temptation to criticize rears its ugly head. God bless you!
I struggle with patience! My mind thinks very quickly and my tongue definitely follows. It is not that I say word themselves that hurtful. But I can say it with so much passion or annoyance that is comes across as dogmatic and the other person can feel shut down.
So, I really need to be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath. I also need to focus more on caring about the person in front of me, than caring about the issue or task at hand.
Thank you for sharing these verses. I struggle with a couple of these areas, complaining and criticizing and have never yet found just the right verse to hold onto. Now I have!
Hi Courtney,
I think the verse that stands out to me is,
James 1 :2
Consider it pure joy, my brother & sister , whenever you face trial of any kind.
This is so hard for me sometimes because I just can’t seem to find the joy in the mist of the trial, but since I have been reading the Book of James it has opened my eyes & I can see the joy in the trial I just have to practice giving it to God & then just walking through it with him not on my own.
Thank u so much for putting this Journal book together. I am growing so much in my faith & as a Christian woman.
I am SO EXCITED that I have found a Bible Study on Instagram ?
Thank You so much for putting God’s Word out on Social Media and the Daily scripture or verses to study❤️
May God continue to Bless You for Your work ?
In His Precious Name of Jesus AMEN❤️
James 1:26 If anyone among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am!
Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25, thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.
Jude 24 Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling (stumbling) , and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! AMEN!
I love to chat, “how are you? You won’t believe what I decided to do! . .” Gets me in a lot of trouble.
Courtney
Thank you. Teaching the word to children and raising them up to find God’s truth for their lives is my mission with my kids. The less they have to stubble in the dark, the more time they have to bring glory to the King! Words so quickly destroy – I am struggling with a quick temper and tongue agrivated by over busy-ness!
A very good appropriate study for me. I am struggling with a relationship that I have had for 10 years. I believe I have grown toward a Christ centered life whereas he has becoming increasing more cynical. He says he believes in God. But says God as Creator, He created all religions. He believes in New Age ideas. I met him at a bible study. Sometimes I thing he tells me these things to see what I will do. I continually stumble with him. I feel like a failure for Christ. I am trying to find a new goal in my life. I want my life to be Christ centered. I have thinking about some temporary missions. We don’t live together. He has been there for me when my birth family cut me out of their lifes. Don’t use my name