In the heat of a vocal altercation, the words that come out of your mouth will easily cause pain and hurt. However, if you know how to control your tongue when angry biblically, it will help you to be thoughtful and gentle with your words.
This means you will have to allow the Bible to control your thought process first before you are mature enough to have self-control of the tongue when you are angry.
So how to control your tongue when angry biblically means to rely on the power of God in His word, to bring transformation into your life and to build you up to grow into Christian maturity, and at this point, you will know how to control your words in anger.
One of the ways to do this is to take your time to listen to sermons on controlling the tongue to help you keep yourself in check and cultivate ways to tame your tongue when angry.
It is said that spoken words from an angry person are like fiery darts; the ruins they can cause might be bigger than the ones who spew them.
Therefore, you should learn how to control your tongue biblically when you are angry and when you are not angry as well because it is very necessary.
As a believer in Christ, you are called onto edification (Romans 14: 19), reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5: 11 – 21), and not to tear down and divide.
However, when you do not know how to control your tongue when angry biblically, the reverse will be the case. The Bible says the godless destroys his neighbors with his mouth (Proverbs 11: 9).
So since we are of God, let our words build up and not tear down. Let it bring life and not destruction, so it is of great importance that, as a Christian, you should know how to control your mouth when you are angry.
Let’s go further and briefly look into what it means to control your tongue Biblically, as we intend to discuss further other subjects surrounding this topic.
What Does It Mean To Control Your Tongue Biblically?
In case you are wondering and asking yourself, what does it mean to control your tongue Biblically? To control your tongue, Biblically means to subject your tongue to only speaking and saying what the Bible instructs us to say.
It means to put your tongue in check to not speak any vain words that do not edify (Ephesians 4: 29). Try to regulate and manage the words that come out of your mouth, and be intentional and mindful of what to say.
James 3: 2 (NIV) We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
The Bible instructs us not to speak vain words because God will judge every word that comes out of our mouth (Matthew 12: 36) and not to engage in vain conversation that does not edify (2 Timothy 2: 16).
Therefore, it is expected that you bridle your tongue and control it to only speak what the Bible commands us to speak.
Possibly, try to always remind yourself of the word of God when angry. In view of this, let us look at how to control your tongue when angry biblically – 10 ways.
1. You Must Recognize The Power In The Tongue
Words are very powerful, but not in the sense of it having any cosmic power or force behind them that makes them come through when spoken; rather, I mean powerful in the literal sense.
By this, I am talking about using our words to encourage and build someone up to find the confidence to make a move, and we can as well use our words to discourage and tear someone down, make them feel less of themselves.
Whenever we are angry, and our emotions get so high and intense, it gets the best of us, and we most times lose control of ourselves.
We no longer think straight; hence, we become careless when we express ourselves. At this point, most words that come out of our mouths are negative, to tear down a person.
We allow every thought that comes to mind without having a second thought about the after-effect of our words and what they can cause.
As a believer in Christ, when we recognize the power in our tongue, that it can tear someone down, and as well encourage and build someone up, then we will learn how to control our tongue when angry biblically.
2. Dedicate Your Heart And Thoughts To God
There is a reason why the Psalmist said in Psalm 19: 14 (NIV) may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD…
The words that come out of your lips is as a result of what you think; little wonder why the wise man in Proverbs 4: 23 (NIV) Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
In addition, it continued in verse 24 (of Proverbs 4 NIV) to say, “Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.”
When your heart and your thoughts are more focused on pleasing God, then whenever you are angry, the words that will come out of your mouth will be controlled by what God’s word says.
By implication, the psalmist and the wise man in Proverbs are saying when you dedicate your heart and thoughts to God; it will enable you to know how to control your tongue when angry biblically.
3. Depend On God’s Strength
To depend on God’s strength means to rely on and trust in God’s ability; it means to be contingent upon God’s power.
The Bible teaches that God’s power in us will quicken our mortal bodies and strengthens us not to live according to our old sinful nature (Romans 8: 11 – 12).
So if you depend on God’s strength that is inside of you, it will empower your physical body to know how to control your tongue when angry biblically.
Because it is the power of God working in us to will and to do (Philippians 2: 13), and the life that you live as a Christian is not you that live it, for you to live is Christ (Philippians 1; 21).
If you want to know more about how to depend on God’s strength, as well as the benefits that come with it, follow the link to read the article Benefits of depending on God.
4. Set Your Mind On God’s Word
When you set your mind on the word of God, it means you are setting your mind on God; it means you are setting your mind on His character.
The Bible says in John 1: 1 (NIV) in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The Bible also points in Psalm 138: 2b (NIV) …for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
Both of these verses clearly point out how seriously God take His words and how He puts them on the same level with His character and person.
Therefore, when our mind is on God’s word, it builds and transforms it, helping us to have self-control over our mouths even when we are angry.
You will not say things to tear people down; rather, because your mind is set on God’s word, even in your angry state, you will still say things to build people up because you are in control of your words.
5. Take Responsibility For Your Words
Taking responsibility means taking charge of your decisions; it means being mindful of what you do.
Therefore, to take responsibility for your words means to take charge and be mindful of what you say. You have to realize that you play a part in every word that comes out of your mouth.
Hence, you need to organize your words the same way you organize yourself and be mindful of what you let come out of your mouth.
Jesus says what defiles a man is not what goes in, but rather what comes out (Matthew 11: 15). By this, He was saying our actions are what really matter. Hence we should take charge of it.
He is teaching us to be responsible for our actions, which in turn means being responsible for what we say.
We should not let our emotions get the best of us and cause us to speak carelessly; rather, we should be in charge of ourselves.
James 1: 26 (NIV) If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself, and his religion is worthless.
6. Make It Your Goal To Speak Blessings And Not Curses
Making it your goal to always speak blessings and not curses is one of the ways how to control your tongue when angry biblically. Remember, the Bible says in Romans 12: 14 (NIV) Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
This means even when we are being abused and falsely accused for the sake of following Christ. And at this point, we have every right to be angry, to lay curses and call down fire and hailstones to fall on them from heaven.
However, we should remember, “the tongue that brings healing is a tree of life…” Proverbs 15: 4 (NIV). So let the words that should come from our mouth at this point be words of blessings that bring healing and not curses.
Jesus also said in Matthew 5: 44 (NIV), But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
7. Be Watchful, And Try Not To Be Sarcastic
Sometimes when we are angry, we choose to express our anger in a different manner. So, instead of being aggressive with our words, we choose to be sarcastic.
Being sarcastic can sometimes be beautiful in a funny way, but when it is done out of anger, it can be more demoralizing than being aggressive, and the person at the receiving end feels more discouraged.
The Bible says Matthew 12: 36 – 37 (NIV) says, But I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words, you will be acquitted, and by your words, you will be condemned.”
You should have in mind that whatever we say out of anger that will not edify the other person is an idol word, and as the Bible says that God will judge every idol word.
So you should be watchful and try not to be sarcastic, and this will help you to know how to control your tongue when angry biblically.
8. Try To Be Gentle With Your Words And Not Hurtful
Part of being a Christian is having a gentle and calm spirit. The Bible says we should be as gentle as a dove (Matthew 10: 16).
Our gentleness should not only be in our looks, but it should transcend every aspect of our life; it should affect the way we express ourselves, both in words and in actions.
Matthew 15: 10 – 11 (NIV) Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean.'”
By this, it means that what defines us is in our actions, how we choose to react to the issues surrounding us, and how we choose to express ourselves.
Therefore, instead of speaking harsh words that are damning and demoralizing, we will be gentle with our words. Let the way we express ourselves in words be in alignment with our attitude The Bible says in Proverbs 15: 1 (NIV), “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
This means if we are not gentle with our words, it can cause the intensity of the anger to grow, and this might become physical.
And we are instructed in the Bible to follow peace with all men (Hebrews 12: 14). Hence we should be gentle with our words and not hurtful to stir up the peace and not strife.
So whenever we are angry, we should try to be gentle with our words and not hurtful; this will help us to know how to control our tongue when angry biblically.
9. Try To Listen More And Speak Less
Whenever you get angry and emotionally tensed up because of the extra dopamine that flows into your system at this point, you become passionate and more expressive when talking, and it gets difficult to control how you talk.
However, if you listen more and speak less when you are angry, it will help you to know how to control your tongue when angry biblically. Remember, the Bible says we should be slow to speak and quick to listen (James 1: 19).
Therefore, you should try to minimize how much you talk and maximize how much you listen whenever you are angry. As this will help you get certain information, you are not aware of, and it might help you to calm down.
Just try to give this a second thought again; remember the popular saying knowledge is power. The information you will get when you listen more and talk less might empower you with the strength to control your anger.
So you should try to listen more and talk less because this will help you control your mouth whenever you are angry. Proverbs 18: 13 (NIV) He who answers before listening — that is his folly and his shame.
10. Try To Choose Your Words Carefully
There is a popular saying that goes like this, and words are like bullets; whenever they are been spoken, they can never be taken back in, so try to choose your words carefully whenever you are angry.
There is completely nothing wrong with being expressive when you are angry. What matters the most is the choice of words you choose to express yourself when you are angry.
You should not be too comfortable to freely spew out words from your mouth carelessly. The Bible says in Proverbs 13: 3 (NIV) He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.
This means if you are not careful with your words, it can cause you to meet your own downfall. So you should choose your words carefully when you are angry because it will help you to know how to control your tongue when angry biblically.
How To Control The Tongue As A Christian
If you are very expressive when you get angry, and you are wondering how to control the tongue as a Christian, here is what you need to do.
How to control the tongue as a Christian is to be careful with your words; only speak words from the scriptures rather than from your thoughts.
This means as believers, you need to build yourself up in the scriptures, study and meditate on it so that you will be filled with the word of God. All your thoughts will be, and your imaginations will be about God’s word.
So when you are angry and emotionally tensed up, the words that you will use to express yourself will come from a soul that is filled with the word of God. At this point, you will only speak God’s word of blessings that will build up and not curses that tears down.
How To Control Your Tongue Bible Verses
1. Proverbs 15: 1 (NIV) A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2. James 1: 26 (NIV) If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself, and his religion is worthless.
3. Matthew 15: 10 – 11 (NIV) Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean.'”
4. Proverbs 15: 4 (NIV) the tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
5. Proverbs 11: 9 (NIV) With his mouth, the godless destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge, the righteous escape.
6. James 1: 19 (NIV) My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.
7. Proverbs 12: 18 (NIV) Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
8. Proverbs 18: 21 (NIV) The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
9. Proverbs 18: 13 (NIV) He who answers before listening — that is his folly and his shame.
10. Proverbs 13: 3 (NIV) He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.
11. Proverbs 21: 23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.
12. 1 Peter 3: 10 (NIV) For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
13. James 3: 2 (NIV) We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
Conclusion
Knowing how to control your tongue when angry biblically is an offshoot of a lifestyle that is deeply rooted in the Holy Scriptures, moved and controlled by the Holy Spirit.
The Bible says in Romans 12: 2 (NIV) do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.
This means to have such a lifestyle is part of what it means to be a Christian, and it takes determination, and hard work, to study and build yourself up to be transformed by the Holy Scriptures.
Save this for later!
