January 24th, 2026
by Cynthia Gandhi Dobbs
by Cynthia Gandhi Dobbs
Day 21 | Prayer and the Power of the Tongue
Congratulations on making it to the second half of this 40-day journey!
What better way to start the second half than with a note on the tongue, which according to James, steers the whole body.
Read the following verses on the power of your tongue.
“When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 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. 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. 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.
“All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers
and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”
James 3:3-12
Prayer Challenge:
Meditate on these verses and pray today that God will help you control your tongue, so that your blessings over people are effective. If you have a habit of using unedifying language, gossip, or slander, pray that God will help you overcome these habits, and that the Holy Spirit will remind you to control your tongue even as you begin to use negative language.
What better way to start the second half than with a note on the tongue, which according to James, steers the whole body.
Read the following verses on the power of your tongue.
“When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 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. 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. 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.
“All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers
and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”
James 3:3-12
Prayer Challenge:
Meditate on these verses and pray today that God will help you control your tongue, so that your blessings over people are effective. If you have a habit of using unedifying language, gossip, or slander, pray that God will help you overcome these habits, and that the Holy Spirit will remind you to control your tongue even as you begin to use negative language.
Posted in 21 Days of Prayer of Fasting
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