A Work - And Word - In Progress

I think many of you would hardily agree that I am a work in progress- and I concur! I get so frustrated with myself and my Christian walk at times, and one of the things which confound me most is my mouth:

There are times I wish I had not spoken, and knew that I was wrong to say something;
   ...times I could hear myself talking about something that I didn't really want to say, but the Spirit compelled me (Jeremiah 20:9);
   ...times when I knew I should have said something, but chickened out;
   ...times when I have should have meditated on a principle longer before sharing;
   ...times when I meditated too long, and lost an opportunity;
   ...times when I just can't get the right words out, and the point remains veiled;
   ...times when the words are chocked by the burden behind them;
   ...times when the words seem too cold.

Life and death are in the power of the tongue,
    and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 18:21


 ¹ Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment; ² for we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body.
    ³ Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide the whole animal. ⁴ And consider ships: though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. ⁵ So too, though the tongue is a small part [of the body], it boasts great things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites. ⁶ And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our [bodies]; it pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell.
    ⁷ For every creature—animal or bird, reptile or fish—is tamed and has been tamed by man, ⁸ but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in God's likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things should not be this way. ¹¹ Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? ¹² Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a grapevine [produce] figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.
James 3:1-12


Lord, I pray today that my words only produce the fruit consistent with being a child of Yours. May my mouth be a spring of purified water blessing You!