Don't speak with "a forked tongue" - All The Word for Today Daily Devotionals for 2026

James 3:10 NKJV

Note what the Bible says about an uncontrolled tongue: "Sometimes it praises... and sometimes it curses... And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs?" (vv. 9-12 NLT).

Native American Indians warned about trusting a person with "a forked tongue." They'll say one thing at one time in one place and the opposite thing at another time in another place. The Bible says, "This is not right!" We deceive ourselves if we think we can go through life speaking with a forked tongue. Our words are a barometer of what's really in our hearts. Hence Solomon wrote: "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life" (Proverbs 4:23 NLT).

Sometimes a doctor will ask you to stick out your tongue during an examination. Why? Because internal problems can often be identified by the film or coating on the tongue. Now a competent physician wouldn't just clean off your tongue and send you home. No, they would determine the source of your problem and then treat it.

And a heart that's surrendered to God produces a tongue that's under the control of His Holy Spirit. Again, Solomon weighed in: "Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips" (Ecclesiastes 10:12 NIV).

Soul food: Zech 9-11; Mark 14:32-42; Ps 3; Pro 24:23-25