Just a Thought: If there was a prayer everyone should pray, it is this prayer of David’s. “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Ps 141:3) David prayed that God would direct his speech to be right speech (righteous). And that God would guard his lips. Someone has well said, before we speak, we should check to see if what we are about to say is true, helpful and necessary. How much would we “not” say if we just did that. How many times have we spoken and turned right around and thought or said, “I wish I hadn’t said that.” But it is too late isn’t it. A word said is a word spent. Once it is out there, there is no taking it back. David wanted God to set a guard over his speech and lips but, the problem for David is also our problem. The mouth and lips are only speaking what’s in the heart. And David prayed for that too. He prayed in the very next verse (same prayer) that God would preserve his heart and keep him from wickedness. I understand some people think they can say what they please. I understand some people think that they have such wonderful words of wisdom on various (or a lot time on every) subject. Such profound wisdom, they don’t need to think before they speak. And they don’t need to ask God to help protect their speech. But, neither of those things are true. Words have meaning! Words can hurt. Proverbs tells us, words have power (10:11; 13:3; 15:4; 18:21) They have the power to heal or destroy. They can give life or kill. Listen, James tells us the tongue is the most powerful muscle in the body (Js. 3) It can be tuff to tame and bring under self-control. So, where do we begin? We begin with the heart because what we put in will come out! And then we ask the Lord, as David did, to put a guard over his speech and lips. If there was a prayer everyone should pray, it is this prayer of David’s. “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Ps 141:3) But, we have to do more than just pray about this. We need to follow up our prayer with action and accountability. Remember today, your words have power! Use them wisely and for the right purpose. And remember, everyone doesn’t always need to know what you’re thinking. So, think before you speak! And speak what is true, helpful and necessary. “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” (Col 4:6)
