In this short but to the point article, I want to share some of the hardest lessons from the Bible that I have tried to apply to my life.  As a kid, I learned how to cut down, intimidate, cuss, gossip, manipulate, and back-stab.  These became terrible habits in my life.  After becoming a Christian, God started showing me that the words I spoke grieved Him, hurt others, and were destroying my life.  My manipulation would get me what I thought I wanted.  People laughed at the cut downs I could hurl with incredible ease, they laughed at my obscene jokes, and they listened to the juicy gossip stories—but this was sin.  Not only was I sinning, but encouraging others to sin.  Below are some of the Bible verses that God instilled in me many years ago.  After twenty-five years, these sinful habits are still not conquered.  I still fail in my speech, but I ain’t what I used to be.  My inner pride is the resistance that keeps God from conquering these sins in my life.

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So accept each other, just as Christ has accepted you, then God will be glorified.  ​

Romans 15:7

Be humble and gentle.  Be patient with each other,

making allowances for each other’s faults because of your love.  ​

​Ephesians 4:2​

Don’t use foul or abusive language.  ​

Let everything you say be good and helpful, ​

so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.  ​

Ephesians 4:29

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander,

as well as all types of malicious behavior. 

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,

just as God through Christ has forgiven you. 

Ephesians 4:31-32

Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. 

Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.  ​

Ephesians 5:4

And whatever you do or say,

let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ,

all the while giving thanks through Him to God the Father. 

Colossians 3:17

Let your conversation be gracious and effective

so that you will have the right answer for everyone. 

Colossians 4:6

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My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak,

and slow to get angry. 

Your anger can never make things right in God’s sight.  ​

James 1:19-20

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So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. 

A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 

And the tongue is a flame of fire. 

It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. 

It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction,

for it is set on fire by hell itself.  ​

James 3:5-6

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If you want a happy life and good days

keep your tongue from speaking evil and

keep your lips from telling lies.  ​

1 Peter 3:10