Believe it or not, the birthplace of most of your problems is in plain sight. It’s right above your chin and right below your nose. It’s the mouth. Biology tells us that the tongue is the only muscle in the body that works without any support from the skeleton. And life tells us that sometimes the mouth seems to work disconnected from the brain; it seems to have a mind of its own.

The truth is that the mouth is perhaps the most powerful vehicle we possess. With it we can bless or curse, we can build up or tear down and we can kill or give life. Our mouths are like the rudder of a ship; even though it is small it controls the direction of our lives.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but onlywhat ishelpful for buildingothers up according to their needs, that it may benefitthose who listen. – Ephesians 4:29 NIV

Did you get that? Our words should only be expressed to help, build and benefit others according to their needs. I don’t know about you, but most of the time my mouth is moving faster than my brain, and at best, I’m thinking and speaking simultaneously. But this instruction means that I’ll have to think before I speak. Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to avoid difficult conversations. What it means is that you’ll have to think before you speak.

Think before you speak by asking yourself:

1. Who should this conversation benefit?
2. What’s the need?
3. How will my words help, build and benefit the person listening?