Swearing Shows Disrespect For The Creator

Suppose you gave your friend-as a gift-a shirt or a blouse. How would you feel if you saw your friend using that garment as a rag or a doormat? Think of how our Creator feels, then, when we misuse the gift of speech. Little wonder that God's Word states: "Let all malicious bitterness and anger and wrath and screaming and abusive speech be taken away from you along with all badness." - Ephesians 4:31.

As you can see, there's good reason to stop swearing. If it's become a deeply ingrained habit, though, how can you overcome it?

First: See the need to change. You likely won't stop swearing until you understand how you will benefit from altering your speech. Which factors below would motivate you to stop swearing?

Pleasing the Creator of speech
Gaining greater respect from others
Expanding my vocabulary
Bettering myself as a person

Second: Figure out what's behind the swearing. Melanie says: "Swearing made me feel tougher in a way. I didn't want people pushing me around. I wanted to have the upper hand, to tell people off the way all my friends did."

What about you? Understanding why you swear is a key to determining how you will address the problem. For example, if you swear just because everyone else does it, you need to learn to build confidence in your own strengths. taking proper pride in being your own person is a vial part of growing up-and a big help in eliminating the habit of swearing.

Third: Find alternative ways of expressing yourself. It's not just a matter of biting your tongue. Conquering the bad language habit involves putting on "the new personality." (Ephesians 4:22-24) This will help you to gain greater self -control and self-respect-as well as respect for others.
The following scriptures will help you to put on-and keep on-the new personality.

Colossians 3:2: "Keep your minds fixed on the things above."
Application: Train your mind to value things that are upright. Your thoughts influence the way you speak.

Proverbs 13:20: "He that is walking with wise persons will become wise, but he that is having dealings with the stupid ones will fare badly."
Application: The language used by your associates can rub off on you.

Psalm 19:14: "Let the sayings of my mouth and the meditation of my heart become pleasurable before you, O Jehovah."
Application: Jehovah notices how we use the gift of speech.

Still need help? Why not use a chart to track your progress by noting how many times you used a bad word? You may be surprised at how quickly you improve your vocabulary.