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Three Essential Questions
After watching the message take some time reflect on the following three questions.

1. What did you hear? What point in this message was most impactful for you?
2. What do you think? How did this message challenge, change, or affirm your thinking?
3. What will you do? How will you put into practice what you've learned today?

ACTION PLAN: Read the following passage from James chapter 3.

"Dear brothers and sisters, don't be in a hurry to become a teacher in the church, because we who teach will be judged by God with greater strictness.  Now we all make many mistakes. In fact, if anyone was able to always say the right thing, that person would be perfect, AND they would have perfect self-control of themselves and their body. We can control very large horses by putting a small bit into their mouths. By controlling their mouth, we can turn the whole animal whatever direction we want it to go. Or take ships as an example. A tiny rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot wants it to go, even though the winds are strong.In the same way your tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do! Just like a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire, your tongue is also a dangerous fire. Among all the parts in your body, it's the one that causes the most wickedness and spreads evil everywhere. It can corrupt and ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing fire of destruction, because it is set on fire by hell itself! People can tame all kinds of animals and birds and reptiles and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil, full of deadly poison. We use our tongue to praise our Lord and Father, but then we use the same tongue to attack and curse other people who've been made in the same image of God! So blessing some people and cursing others comes out of the same mouth! Listen, my brothers and sisters, this should never happen! Can fresh water and bitter water come out of the same spring? No! Can a fig tree bear olives or a grapevine produce figs? No! And you can't get fresh water out of a polluted well! How humbly you live, not how you talk, shows your wisdom. If you harbor bitterness or jealousy or self-centered bias in your heart, you shouldn't boast that you're wise. You deny the truth to make yourself look better.
That's not wisdom; it's earthly, it's unspiritual and it's inspired by the devil."
James 3:1-15

WHY DO I NEED GOD'S HELP FILTERING WHAT I SAY?

1.  MY TONGUE DIRECTS WHERE I'M HEADED 

ACTION PLAN: Evaluate your recent self-talk. Imagine someone else saying those things to you.  How would it make you feel? Does it affirm God's good plans for you?  Meditate on Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord.  "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

2.  MY TONGUE CAN DESTROY WHAT I HAVE 

"If you want to stay out of trouble be careful what you say!"
Proverbs 21:23 (TEV)

ACTION PLAN: Is there anyone you need to apologize to for a careless word you've spoken? Call them this week, apologize, and affirm their importance to you. 

3. MY TONGUE DISPLAYS WHO I REALLY AM

Point: My deeper problem isn't my tongue. It'smy heart.

WHAT'S THE SOLUTION? EVERY DAY . . .

1.  ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CHANGE MY HEART
      "Rid yourself of all the offenses you have committed and get a new
       heart and a new spirit!"                         Ezekiel 18:31

      Jesus "For out of the overflow of your heart your mouth speaks." 
          Matt. 12:34 

2.  ASK HIM TO HELP ME MANAGE MY MOUTH
      "Lord, help me control my tongue; and help me be careful about
       what I say."                                    Psalm 141:3 (NCV)

     "Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry."
James 1:19

ACTION PLAN: Follow points 1 and 2 above daily.  Rate your heart as you begin this daily process.  At the end of the week, rate yourself again to see the progress the Holy Spirit has made in your heart.

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