We must be careful in how we speak

With wisdom on our lips, and love to keep

For words can hurt, they echo through

Inside the heart of me and you

When we speak, we must think about what we say

Ask God to help us, so we must first pray

For words said in anger, can do more harm

Instead of making things better, can cause alarm

When feelings are too big, we must slow down

Go to God to keep us centered on loving ground

For the choices we make, with the words we speak

Can cripple with anger or build up with love that seeps

Words have power, may we use them right

In how we love and how we fight

For when fought with angry words, no one wins

The only victory is, left in sin

Though when we fight with love as our goal

It is gentle words that renew our soul

God, we ask you to guide us with how we speak

With wisdom on our lips and love to keep

Erin Fitts-Brower

Love to keep

Proverbs 13:3 NIV

Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.

Proverbs 15:1 NIV

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Psalm 141:3

Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.

Proverbs 17:28 NIV

Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.

James 1:26 NIV

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

Proverbs 21:23 NIV

Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.

Luke 6:45 NIV

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Proverbs 18:21 NIV

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

James 1:19-20 NIV

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.