A Small Thing That Steers Big Things

Byron Wicker
Byron Wicker
April 26, 2023
Read time
Large ship lead by small ship
Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. James 3:3


Dear People Who Keep Company with God,

The human brain interprets sensory information from the world and is responsible for nearly all functions of our body. The cerebrum, by God’s design, is the control room of our brain and is the location of our speech center. James reveals, as medical science now confirms, that despite its small size, the tongue is not weak. Bits in horses’ mouths and a ship’s rudder (James 3:4) have this in common: small things that steer big things. The tongue is a small but powerful driver of the impact we leave on everyone we meet.

James teaches that while humans have tamed every beast, bird, reptile, and sea animal, we cannot tame our tongues (James 3:8). Our words are an expression of our hearts. Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). Only the Holy Spirit can tame our tongues by working on our hearts.

Since the tongue is essential to speech, food, and liquid consumption, the Bible often uses it in metaphors to understand the heart and mind of God. As the tongue is used by our physical body to taste food and drink, so by the Holy Spirit, we can taste and see that the Lord is good (Hebrews 6:5 & Psalm 34:8). To taste means something more than a fleeting relationship; it means allowing the Lord and His truth into our inner being. Jesus told us that those who taste and see He is good would find blessings and true happiness (Matthew 5:6). When we taste the Lord, nothing else will truly satisfy us, and we will discern what is of Him and what is from the world, flesh, or the devil.

The tongue aids in chewing and swallowing food and liquid, which speaks of the impact of receiving the word of the Lord. “But the ones (word) that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15). A noble and good heart is a surrendered heart. The word of the Lord must be taken absorbed inside a person to have any effect. Simply seeing, smelling, or touching food or water is not enough. It must be consumed to become one with you. The word of the Lord puts substance into your life and changes the essence of who you are.

The tongue enables us to speak, and one of the most precious gifts of the Holy Spirit is the ability to speak in tongues. Speaking in tongues allows us to bypass the interference of our limited understanding and have direct communication between our spirit and the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:2). It also releases the interpretation and understanding of the secrets and purposes of God into our hearts (1 Corinthians 14:2). And as we speak in tongues, we build up our spiritual strength (I Corinthians 14:4).

The power of words, whether expressed through speech, writing, thoughts, or any other means, is undeniable. Don’t ignore the power of your words. They can set you on a trajectory of life or loss (Proverbs 18:21).

Many Blessings, BW

Share this post