October 14, 2025 | Be God's Family
The Tongue-Tied Bridled Pride Guide
Scripture: James 3:3-6(NIV)
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Devotional
I was the youngest of 6 children living in a church parsonage. The church owned 9 acres and as the pastor’s family, we had a menagerie of animals (sheep, homing pigeons, dogs, cats, snakes, fish, horses and a duck). Besides pets, we had land plenteous with gardens, fruit trees, a baseball diamond, volleyball/basketball/tennis courts, green pastures and woods.
On my 10th birthday, Dad bought a Bay horse named Cinnamon. She had a red coat and black mane. She was spunky with a will of her own. Sometimes unbridled, Cinnamon would bite me if she didn’t like something. Sometimes on the last stretch of our ride, she would wildly run home taking us through trees or bucking to throw us off. Ouch! She wanted to be in charge, go rest and eat her sugar cubes, carrots or apple reward. Cinnamon was strong-willed when unbridled, but easier to handle when bridled. But the bridling of the tongue is a genius invention. Obedience comes so much easier when bridled. Directional harmony forges freedom.
In James 3, Jesus’ half-brother, compares our tongue (words) to bridling a horse. I understand today’s scripture well. We put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us. With these bits we can control their whole body. (Easy to Read Bible)
Sometimes my tongue is a spunky spoiled horse.
Sometimes my disobedient biting words hurt others.
Sometimes I allow my words to pridefully run home with desire to indulge in sugar coated temptations of gossip or cruel words. I forget I am led by God.
Sometimes I refuse the bridle.
Can you relate? Today’s scripture alerts us to untamed word habits. It reminds us of tongue-tied pride.
If we don’t let the Lord bridle our prideful words, we wildly hurt ourselves and others. We become unbridled Christians which causes turmoil and unholy living. No one wants this.
The converse of being unbridled, is to allow ourselves to be led by the Master. God helps us exercise restraint and in turn we experience adventurous freedom in our Christian ride. For me, my daily bridling starts with prayer, Scripture reading and reflection. These practices help bridle my tongue and I am reigned into Jesus’s path, not my own. I benefit from the Holy Spirit’s guiding control of my life. It’s about trusting the Lord.
Guide to the Bridle
- Allow the Lord to bridle you each morning with reins of scripture.
- Saddle up for the twists and turns of the day by letting God lead.
- Restrain yourself. Stop biting back with untamed tongue habits.
- Pray! Follow! Enjoy the blessed freedom of being led by the LORD.
Poem
Bits, Rudders, Sparks
Proverbs 19
The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating.The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.
Proverbs 18: 6, 7
A horse with bit and rein
Can skillfully be trained
Its owner then can reign
And cover vast terrain
A ship with rudder small
With great cargo to haul
Can through grave waters crawl
With pilot at the hull
A thin match, fire spark
Can brighten up the dark
Its holder thus embark
E’en trail just barely marked
But bit, rudders and sparks
When guiding truth depart
Can truly miss the mark
And pull peace’s calm apart
And thus, the tongue can be
A pleasing symphony
But when unruled and free
Birth vast catastrophe
