Dear Juanita, Guard Your Words Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3 It happens so often. Youre itching to say something, but before you double-check your words against the Holy Spirit, you let the sentence slip. You drop a precisely timed phrase that manipulates. Toss a few flirting words that entice. Aim a verbal barb that stings. Send a signal that you dare not be crossed. Whatever the message, youve hit the target with your words. Someones reputation has been slandered. A heart has become divided. Feelings have been crushed. A testimony is compromised. A spirit is badly bruised. Someone once prayed, Before I move, before I speak, perfect wisdom I will seek. Thats good advice for the Christian who ignores the Spirits prompting and proceeds to be slow to hear and swift to speak. Matthew Henry builds on that prayer when he says, Since my lips are the door to my words, let grace keep that door, that no word may go out which in any way dishonors God or hurts others. And in case you still think a few, subtle words cant do that much harm, let the following serve as a warning: The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell (James 3:6). ______________________________________ Proverbs 13:3 is another reminder, He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. Your mind, will, and emotions are dangerously exposed to ruin when you say things with an impure or hurtful motive. So before you speak, ask yourself, Will what I say hurt or help? Will it glorify God? Would I be ashamed if others heard? Lord, before I move, before I speak, perfect wisdom I will seek. Blessings, Joni and Friends joniandfriends.org
Posted on: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 15:14:58 +0000
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