What does our tongue reveal?

I've been thinking a lot lately about the tongue-my tongue. One of the reason I suppose is because our pastor is speaking on James. What does my tongue reveal about me? What does my tongue reveal about my heart?

Why is the tongue so important? Pr 6:17,18 says that God hates a lying tongue. If you look the word tongue up it's mentioned over 100 times, and the word mouth is mentioned well over 300 times. Our tongue whether we like it or not gives us a spiritual reading on where our heart is.

Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; And your own lips testify against you."(Job 15:6)

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.(Jas 1:26)

So what should come out of our mouths?

She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.(Pr 31:26)

And my tongue shall declare Your righteousness {And} Your praise all day long.Ps 35:28)

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, And his tongue speaks justice.(Ps 37:30)

My mouth will speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart {will be} understanding. (Ps 49:3)

O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise. (Ps 51:15)

With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the LORD; And in the midst of many I will praise Him. (Ps 109:30)

The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom, But the perverted tongue will be cut out. (Pr 10:31)

The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted. (Pr 10:32)

James reminds us that "no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison." (Jas 3:8) And it's true, we can not tame our tongue, we can not control it. For whatever is in the heart will come out of the mouth. Is there hope? Absolutely, our hope rest in the working of Jesus Christ. It's through Him that we can learn to speak words of wisdom, truth, hope, love, joy ...etc...

Then what should be our prayer?

Oh Father search my search my heart to see if there is any wickedness. Help me to put away any deceitfulness you find from my mouth And put devious speech far from you.(Pr 4:24) Keep my tongue from evil And my lips from speaking deceit.(Ps 34:13)Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer(Ps 19:14)O God please set a guard over my mouth and keep watch over the door of my lips.(Ps 141:3)Let all my words be pleasing to you God. Cleanse me Lord that I might be a light and that my mouth and my heart might speak as one.

All Bible verses taken from NASB