When Mary Southerland came down with a raging fever, her doctor suspected viral meningitis. In the course of examining her, he checked the colour of her tongue. Mary was puzzled. Why did that matter? The doctor told her that the tongue can actually tell us a lot about our health. And a similar idea applies to our spiritual health.

The Bible tells us, ‘The mouth speaks the things that are in the heart. Good people have good things in their hearts, and so they say good things. But evil people have evil in their hearts, so they say evil things’ (v.34-35 NCV). Our heart, our attitude, our outlook, and our temperament are all reflected by our tongue through the words we speak and the way we say them.

Mary Southerland wrote: ‘The tongue is a spiritual thermometer that reflects the condition of the heart…Words are power tools that can build…encourage…destroy and cause confusion. We have all been hurt and even defeated by words spoken in anger or words rising out of a wounded heart…If my words are boastful, my heart is insecure. If my words are filthy, my heart is impure and if my words are critical, my heart is filled with pride and anger…Solomon said, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” (Proverbs 25:11 KJV)…The right word, spoken at the right time and in the right way can bring order in the midst of confusion and light on a very dark path. “Good people know the right thing to say” (Proverbs 10:32 NCV). God gives us spiritual “radar” so we can assess a situation and speak the right word for that circumstance. We just need to check the “radar screen” before we speak.’

What Now?

At the end of the day, think back over any words you’ve spoken or written to others. Do your words reflect God and a heart that’s full of good things? Or are there any that, looking back, you’re not proud of? Ask God to help you make any necessary adjustments to your words in future.