First Steps To Healing

Let us look at three simple, practical, scriptural steps to dealing with the problem of the tongue.

Step Number 1: Call your problem by its right name: sin.

It is important that we become honest. As long as we use some fancy, psychological terminology to cover or condone, excuse, or pretend that our problem is not really there, nothing will happen. We must come to the moment of honesty. I have seen this many times in God’s dealings both with me and with many other people. When we come to the moment of truth, God moves in and helps us. As long as we try to excuse, cover up or misrepresent our problem, God does nothing for us. Sometimes we say, "God, why don’t you help me?" God replies (we may not hear Him, but God replies), "I’m waiting for you to be honest—honest with yourself and honest with Me."

That is the first and the most important step. Once you take that step, you are well on the way to the steps that follow. Call your problem by its right name: sin.

Religious people have many different ways of excusing or glossing over the misuse of our tongues. They think that it does not matter much what they say, but God says it makes all the difference. In fact, we have seen that you settle your destiny by what you say. Jesus said, "By your words you shall be justified, by your words you shall be condemned" (Matthew 12:37). It is a serious matter. Do not trifle with it. Come to the moment of truth and say, "I have a problem: it is sin." When you have come there, you are ready to take the second step.

Step Number 2: Confess your sin and receive forgiveness and cleansing.

1 John 1:7-9 illustrates this clearly:

"… if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (NAS)

Again, we see the importance of being honest. The blood of Jesus does not cleanse in the dark. Only when we come to the light can we receive the cleansing of the blood of Jesus. If we are walking in the light, then the blood of Jesus Christ continually cleanses us and keeps us pure from all sin.