I try not to curse. I try hard not to curse in public. I try really hard not to curse at other people.

But that day…That day, I was ready to let them have it. And I mean all of it. Every vile thing that had been bouncing around in my head since I was affronted with this nonsense. I say affronted, because confrontation requires some face to face interaction. In this case, the instigator had yet to reveal himself, and so instead, I was met with whispers in the halls, and leaked tidbits from closed door meetings.

Someone dared to sully my name, ruin my reputation, and out and out lie.
I WAS MAD AND READY FOR A FIGHT.

I went looking for opportunities to dispel the fictitious and malicious story, and a funny thing happened. None presented themselves. So I sat, stewing for a bit, ready to snap at the slightest hint of provocation.

“A gentle answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger.”(Proverbs 15:1-2) I’m not sure why this Bible verse found it’s way into my spirit, especially since the only thing on my mind was all the harsh words I was planning to say. I mean, in my head, I was compounding curse words to maximize their impact. Did I mention that I was MAD!?

The Bible says the tongue is a fire, and I was ready to set the world ablaze, and leave a trail of ashes behind me. I was fully prepared to burn bridges, bread, and brunch dates if necessary (and nobody should ever ruin brunch, in my opinion. That is akin to blasphemy.)

I am not sure why, but I never got the opportunity address the accuser or even anybody who repeated the accusations. Somebody’s lying tongue is what started this tomfoolery in the first place, and by the time it reached me, what started as a raging fire was little more than a few burning embers. My commenting would have just poured gasoline on a dying fire. Thank God for blessed quietness.

When the apostles were arrested by tongues of fire (Acts, 2:3-4), it was symbolic of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But I am a witness that the Spirit will arrest our fleshly tongues of fire as evidence of Himself at work in our lives.

“Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the doors of my lips.”
Psalm 141:3

“Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.”
Proverbs 21:23