We are meditating on scriptural principles to control the words coming out of your mouth. Here are two additional principles:
Realize your words reflect on the Gospel:
As long as you believe your tongue is not important, you will not gain control of it. You must realize that your conversation reflects on the Gospel of Jesus:
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ…
(Philippians 1:27)
Because of this, you should set a good example by your conversation:
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (1Timothy 4:12)
What comes out of your mouth is heard by the heathen:
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. (Psalms 126:2)
You can actually win others to the Lord Jesus Christ by your conversation:
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. (1 Peter 3:1-2)
Think before you speak:
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear; slow to speak, slow to wrath. (James 1:19)
If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth. (Proverbs 30:32)
The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things. (Proverbs 15:28)
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. (Proverbs 17:28)