1. Ask the Lord to help you to hold your tongue and consider carefully how your speech will effect others. James wrote, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."(James 1:19)
2. Carefully consider the long-term effects of any impulsive behavior. Solomon wrote, "The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it." (Prov. 27: 12)
3. It is better to error on the side of silence than to speak words that you may wish to take back later. Solomon wrote, "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise." (Prov. 10: 19)
4. Let your speech be full of grace and edifying to the hearers. Solomon wrote, "The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools dies for lack of judgment." (Prov. 10:21)
5. Do not needlessly criticize people who you just don't agree with. Solomon wrote, "A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue." (Prov.11 : 12)
6. Learn how to keep confidential information to yourself. Solomon wrote, "A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret." (Prov. 11: 13)
7. Ask the Lord to help you remain calm in the face of provocation and do not over react in fear or anger. Solomon wrote, "A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult."(Prov. 12:16)
8. Use your speech to heal and not to do damage. Solomon wrote, "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." (Prov. 12: 18)
9. Be willing to keep information between you and the Lord. Solomon wrote, "A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself, but the heart of fools blurt out folly." (Prov. 12:23)
10. Be cautious in whom you make friends with and give away trusting information to. Solomon wrote, "A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray." (Prov. 12:26)
11. Move ahead only after you have thoroughly research an issue before speaking. Solomon wrote, "Every prudent man acts out of knowledge, but a fool exposes his folly." (Prov. 13: 16)
12. Consider the benefits of being patient in the way you present facts. Solomon wrote, "A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly." (Prov. 14:29)
13. Avoid quarreling. Solomon wrote, "He who loves a quarrel loves sin; he who builds a high gate invites destruction." (Prov. 17: 19)
14. Have nothing to do with foolish disputes.
15. Know that patient people are more effective than combative and argumentative individuals. Solomon wrote, "Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city." (Prov. 16:32) Slow and steady usually wins the race.
16. Do not pay much attention to evil, immature or carnal individuals. Solomon wrote, "A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue." (Prov. 17:4)
17. Get wise advice from Godly counselors before presenting your case. Solomon wrote, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. (Prov. 15 :22)
18. Ask the Lord for a spirit of restraint in your words and in the soft voice tone you use to communicate with. "A harsh word stirs up anger, but a soft word turn away anger." (Prov. 15: 1)
19. Solomon wrote, "A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even tempered." (Prov. 17:27) It is better to remain silent and appear intelligent than to open your mouth and let people know how little you really know.
