The Bible tells us that the truth will make us free. John 8:32 – “ And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Jesus said He is the Truth (see John 14:6). He is the Word made flesh Who came to dwell among men (see John 1:14), and through the Holy Spirit He has left us His written instructions in the Bible.

When we face the truth, God gives us mercy (see Psalm 85:10), but if we live in deception, we have many complicated problems in our lives. Psalm 51:6 says, “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts...” This scripture refers to King David finally facing his sins of adultery and murder, which he had ignored for a year. He had been deceiving himself. Making excuses for his sin was probably the vehicle of deception that Satan had tempted him to use.

One way we can really get to know ourselves is to listen to ourselves. James 1:26 says if we think we are religious and do not bridle our tongues, we deceive ourselves, and our religious service is vain and useless. This means if I honestly listen to myself and realize that what comes out of my mouth has originated in my heart (see Matthew 12:34), I can learn a lot about myself. So can you. This will take a willingness to face some hard truth, but I believe it is time to press on to new levels in God. There are blessings awaiting that will be worth it. We Christians need to grow up. We need to become all we can be so we can have all God wants us to have and do all He wants us to do.

The Bible is filled with scriptures about the power of words, the tongue, and the mouth. Proverbs, which is a book of wisdom, records many such passages. To not bridle the mouth is simply not wisdom, and any person who does not walk in wisdom will live far below the level Jesus intended.

Your own words affect your future. They can have a positive or negative effect. You can speak faith-filled words that can help bring to pass God’s good plan for your life, or you can speak words of doubt and fearfulness. You can call those things that be not as though they are (see Romans 4:17), or you can deny your problem and call those things that are as though they are not. Many of us are negative and call those things that are as if they will never change. I have found that my mouth affects my ministry to others, my anointing, my finances, my health, my emotional state, and literally every aspect of my life.

Jesus encouraged His disciples in Mark 11 to speak to their mountains, but many people spend their days talking about their mountains. Instead of speaking positive words that will get them into agreement with God, they keep agreeing with the enemy. Once Satan is successful in digging a pit for people and throwing them in it, they often keep themselves there for a lifetime because their conversation never gets out of the pit.

Are you jealous, insecure, fearful or manipulative? The Holy Spirit can work in you and set you free. Many of us Christians need to give God our mouth. We have given Him our heart but not our mouth. He can help you bridle your tongue and become a mouthpiece for God. Notice I said He will help you. He will not do it for you.

The Bible says in Proverbs 23:7 -- “ For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...” We must change our thinking by changing our heart. The Bible also says in Romans 10:17 -- “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” We must read what the Word says about the mouth. We need to listen to and read solid biblical teaching about the mouth. We need all the help we can get, because the tongue is a powerful force.

It is my prayer that you will allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. John 16:13 tells us that He will. However, He will not force us to walk in truth. It is a choice we must make.