Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.
- Psalm 141:3
Over the past few years, I’ve begun to know more about myself. I’ve begun to know what makes me happy and know what irritates me. One thing I’ve really learned is that when I’m tired, it’s best to keep my mouth shut. Out of my tiredness, I have a tendency to say things without thinking. Sometimes those things are spoken out of my frustrations and tend to not be very kind. Just last week, I told my colleague we needed to stop talking about something because I was tired and I had an attitude that was getting worse as we talked. I was afraid I was going to say something I was going to regret.
I am grateful for Scriptures like this verse. God knows our weaknesses and He knows there are times we cannot do things on our own. There are times I need his help to watch over the door of my mouth to make sure the words that pour out are a reflection of Him.
Prayer:
Thank you Lord, for the wisdom to know when to keep my mouth shut. Lord, I want to speak words of life, words of encouragement. Please, keep a guard over my mouth and filter the words that come out so I can speak words that build others up.
Question:
Are the words that come out of your mouth kind and uplifting? Or are they harsh and demeaning? (Sometimes we don’t mean for them to come out that way).
Challenge:
T.H.I.N.K. before you speak. Is it True? Is it Helpful? Is it Inspiring? Is it Necessary? Is it Kind? [side note, that acronym was taken from Pinterest!]
Outreach Challenge:
When spring comes, the flowers start to pop up. Think about the people around you. Is there a woman who could use some flowers? Buy some flowers for that woman as a way to bless her. (Men, be cautious with this one. You don’t want to send mix signals to a woman or lead her on. Maybe see if there is an elderly lady around you).
