Good morning!

A few years back, I purchased home fire extinguishers after a heating element in our wall oven exploded into a brief but uncontrollable fire.

Insurance statistics reveal that similar small fires cause several billion dollars in damage annually to homes. They start from small sources like pots, pans, and candles.

In James 3:4-5, we learn that though our tongues are small, they produce words that can start little fires with spiritual and physical implications. Birthing little flames that can grow into raging infernos that become very hard or impossible to put out.

Firery words can do extensive damage to our lives and the lives of others in that they can ruin relationships, opportunities, business deals, marriages, health, cherished reputations, etc.

Reducing and eliminating the damage from fiery words starts with monitoring the thought within our mind (Romans 12:1-2). Fiery thoughts that are quickly dealt with don’t get a chance to transition into fiery words that leave our mouths!

Corinthian 10:5 – casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Remember, when we work to become Spirit-controlled and not carnally minded controlled, we tame our tongue and reduce the fuel to potentially start fires not only in our lives but in the lives of others!

1 Peter 3:10 Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;

Let us strive to better monitor our mouths and keep negative smoldering thoughts and words from growing into flames that burn up our spiritual blessings and earthly economic progress.

Proverbs 18:7 – a fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.