It’s All About the Placement

If I were to ask you what you thought was the strongest muscle in your body, you might say your thighs or your abs; but would it surprise you if I told you that the tongue is considered one of the strongest muscles in the body. Here’s why. It is not just one muscle, it is made up of eight muscles that work together to allow you to chew, swallow and speak. Without any form of thought-out exercise program like we may follow for our bodies, it is exceedingly active, making it a very strong muscle.

My daughter was born with a hearing deficiency, so we spent many hours with speech therapists. I was unaware, but learned quickly, how important tongue placement was for making certain sounds correctly. It’s not something we consciously think about when we’re talking, but for the hearing and speech impaired, it is vital. For example, to properly articulate the /s/ sound, the tongue must raise and land behind the front teeth. I know you just tried it!

So maybe you’re wondering why I’m giving you an anatomy and speech lesson…it’s because the bible is full of references to this mighty-mini muscle, giving us insight and wisdom on how to manage it. Proverbs 18:21 says “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” You’d think nothing as small as the human tongue could have so much control, but think about it…we can destroy someone effortlessly with the words we speak, or we can show love and compassion just as easily. It’s all about placement…

I remember always telling my kids as they were growing up to be mindful of what came out of their mouth. If they were nervous about a test, for instance, I’d encourage them to only speak positively, like they were going to ace the exam. Saying ahead of time that they were sure to fail would only deliver bad results. Ephesians 4:29 says “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” We can either speak bad things into our life, or we can choose to speak peace and prosperity into existence. Placement.

I don’t know about you, but my mom always told me, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” She probably didn’t know she was quoting scripture! Proverbs 10:19 (AMP) says, “When there are many words, transgression and offense are unavoidable, but he who controls his lips and keeps thoughtful silence is wise.” Thoughtful silence…I liked that. If you aren’t sure if you should say something, practice the art of thoughtful silence. Better to err on the side of caution, because once words leave your mouth, you can NEVER get them back. Where will you place your tongue today?