What's Next?

Hi, I’m Katie, and I’m a foul-mouthed Christian.

Ugh…that doesn’t sound good, does it? But that’s what I am right now. I’m having some serious issues taming my tongue lately.

I’m a part of a bible study/mentoring program on Wednesday nights this spring. It’s a 6-week program. I really don’t like the book that we’re going through (don’t get me started…it’s a tirade I’m not energized for right now!), but I do enjoy the conversations and the relationships that I’m building because of it.

Last night’s lesson was on purity. I always think of “purity” in relationship to sex, but we talked about so much more than that last night. This study really helped me understand that my foul language is a purity issue, and that hit home. The author uses a phrase in the book that helped me to understand more about what might be going on with me. She says something like, “What goes down in the well comes up in the bucket.” That little phrase made me realize that I must have a lot of muck in my well!

I talked with Matt about it last night, and after he listened to me jabber on and on about it, he said, “So what’s next?” It wasn’t the response I expected. I actually expected him to tell me about how my bad language has affected him, and how it bothers him when I let foul things fly from my lips. Instead, he said, “What’s next?”

It was exactly what I needed to hear. That simple little question packed a punch of possibility! It not only indicated that he agreed and noticed my little problem; it let me know that he thinks I can overcome it and believes that I will. I love him for that.

So what is next? I’m not quite sure. I really think I need to be careful about what I’m listening to, reading, watching on TV, talking about, etc. It really does have an impact on my mind. I also have some scriptures that I’m going to try to reflect on daily to really help drive the point home. I really do want God to clean out my mucky well…even if it’s going to be difficult for me.

Anyone else struggle with this stuff? Comment, and let’s chat about it!

Here are the scriptures I have decided to focus on:

Psalm 51
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Psalm 19:14
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
James 3
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.