The Bible has a lot to say about the dangers of the tongue. James devotes an entire chapter to this subject: 'If we could control our tongues, we...could also control ourselves in every other way' (James 3:2 NLT). Now there is an aspect of self-control to consider!

The Greek sage Publius said, 'I have often regretted my speech, but never my silence.' And novelist William Edward Norris wrote, 'If you your lips would keep from slips, five things observe with care; to whom you speak, of whom you speak, and how, and when, and where.' King David put it this way: 'I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth' (Psalm 39:1 NIV). That's what it takes - a 'muzzle'! David is talking about making a conscious commitment to watch what we say.

To control our tongue, let's consider these: (1) Think first. Before we speak, let's pause for ten seconds and mentally preview our words. Are they accurate or exaggerated? Kind or cutting? Needless or necessary? Grateful or complaining? What we don't say today, we won't have to explain tomorrow. (2) Talk less. Our chances of getting into trouble increase exponentially when we talk too much. Let's conserve our verbal energy.

So, let's watch what we say - and appreciate how it enriches our lives.

So what now? In which area of your life do you struggle to hold your tongue? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to think first, talk less and bring your words into submission today.

Plants need strong, healthy root systems to thrive. Those with weak or damaged roots can still grow, but they won't be able to reach their full potential or withstand stress as well. The good news is that the plants can be treated and the roots encouraged to grow stronger. Some plants suffer from root rot. Once the problem has been identified, the roots need to be washed clean, the bad parts cut away, and the plant repotted in fresh soil.

Our lives need healthy root structures too. Flawed roots produce flawed fruit, like feelings of inferiority, worthlessness, anger, inability to trust and fear of intimacy. If our root system contains things like rejection, past mistakes and painful experiences, we need to bring them out into the open and treat them.

We can be healed with God's help: 'I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers and that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. Stand firm and be deeply rooted in his love' (Ephesians 3:16-17 CEV).

So what now? Emotional healing is a process. Strong roots require three things: (1) Time to grow. Becoming confident in your identity as God's child is like breaking in new shoes; you have to walk in them until they become comfortable. (2) Protection from harm. Surround yourself with people who build you up; who share the same faith (see 2 Peter 1:1). (3) Spiritual nourishment. Pray and feed regularly from God's word (see Job 23:12). God wants to see you deeply rooted, confident and free.

A Bible teacher says: 'Because my family's so large, we draw names to see who we'll buy presents for. One Christmas when I opened my present, I was disappointed...then I looked at my twin brother who got two nice gifts. Sensing my disappointment, my wife...said, "Don't worry. When we get home, we'll exchange it for something you like better." The same thing happens in the Body of Christ. We open the gifts God has given us and immediately run to someone else to see what he or she received...We look at our gift...and immediately think..."I know...I'll swap it for something I like better." That's why there are so many people running around claiming to be an apostle or a prophet or a teacher...They're gift-swapping.'

We don't get to decide what gifts God gives us. God 'put all the parts...in the body as he wanted them' (1 Corinthians 12:18 NCV). Instead of envying another person's gift, let's be thankful for our own.

Here's more about our gifts, found in the Bible: 'God doesn't take back the gifts he has given' (Romans 11:29 CEV); 'Each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that' (1 Corinthians 7:7 NIV); 'The Spirit decides what to give each person' (1 Corinthians 12:11 NCV).

So what now? Discover, be thankful for and then use the gifts God gave you. And don't compare yourself to anyone else. God knows best, so you will flourish in what you're called to do.

To be truly fruitful in life, we need to have an intimate relationship with God. We need to desire to spend time with him. We need to be vulnerable and honest - he wants us to share the good and the bad with him, and nothing is too big or too small to share. And we need to communicate regularly, talking to him but mostly learning to listen for his voice and hear his heart for us and our lives.

There is always an open invitation from our heavenly Father to be intimate with him: 'Come near to God, and God will come near to you' (James 4:8 NCV). God never forces this connection with us; it's up to us to come close. He's always waiting, but we have to decide to draw close to him. We have to choose to obey and follow him. We have to choose to accept God's love for us, and stay in that love. Jesus said: 'I loved you as the Father loved me. Now remain in my love' (John 15:9 NCV).

Jesus used the analogy of a grapevine to illustrate the importance of being intimately connected to God. He said: 'I am the vine, and you are the branches. If any remain in me and I remain in them, they produce much fruit. But without me they can do nothing' (John 15:5 NCV).

So what now? Today, choose to accept God's invitation to intimacy. You will not regret saying yes. It is the key to a life of great purpose, joy, peace and fruitfulness.

The Christian life could be compared to the Old Testament tabernacle, which was divided into three compartments. There was an outer court to which everyone had access. Our 'outer court' is the places we go for work, shopping, studying and entertainment. It represents our outward appearance or public persona, the part of us everyone sees.

The tabernacle also had an inner chamber called the Holy Place, where most people weren't permitted to go. Our 'holy place' is where designated people like close friends or family can enter, a place where we're more comfortable revealing our inner feelings, thoughts and ideas. When it comes to that inner chamber, we decide who enters in.

The third compartment in the Old Testament tabernacle was the Holy of Holies, a very small, carefully guarded place, deep inside. It was accessed by the chief priest, and there was room for him and God. Our 'holy of holies' is where our unfiltered and true thoughts, emotions and opinions sit. We sometimes refer to it as 'the secret place,' because only God is allowed in.

So what now? Jesus said, 'When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you' (Matthew 6:6 NIV). Here's a truth you need to know: your level of peace, joy, contentment, guidance and victory is regulated by the amount of time you spend with God in your secret place. Prioritise it, protect it and spend time there each day.

Did the people in Scripture who 'walked with God' ever stumble or get off track? Yes, definitely. But each morning, their commitment was to walk with God. They drew on his strength, endeavoured to do his will, and aimed towards the goal that he'd set for them.

The apostle Paul writes, 'I...encourage you to live the kind of life which proves that God has called you' (Ephesians 4:1 GWT). This means to seek God's leading and stay in step with him. It's learning to act when he acts and pause when he pauses. As believers, our lives shouldn't be compartmentalised into sacred or secular. The Bible says, 'In him we live and move and have our being' (Acts 17:28 NIV). We can't say, 'In this situation, I'm operating under my own steam, but in that situation, I'm operating according to the Holy Spirit within me.' The Holy Spirit doesn't come and go from our lives; he is always with us!

Here's a Scripture to consider: 'You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honour and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased' (Revelation 4:11 NLT). What an awesome thought: we were created to bring happiness to God! So, he loves it when we walk with him.

So what now? How about making a commitment to walk with God. When you do, you'll discover that the direction he takes you in is always the right direction; his timing is the right timing, and the results are always the best.