So, yes, we can open wide our mouths, so You can fill us with those good things that You have for us but we must also watch what comes out of our mouths. What has been in our thoughts? What has been in our hearts? Have we filtered it against Your filter of things that are noble and just and of good report?
Have we filtered it? Set that watch over those words, indeed, over our mouths and lips. Then we will not let any evil come out of them.
I remember the time in a Sunday School in New York where we had been visiting, so long ago, when one brother-in-Christ, one of Your sons, Father, said God has put a double protection upon our mouths. One is our lips and the other, our teeth. Therefore, there are two doors: the lips are one door, the teeth are a door. Help us to keep our trap shut, Lord, with the double security of those "doors".
We do not want to speak evil. We do not wish to blurt those words that should NOT come out of our mouths. No regrets, hurtful, harmful abusive words. Help us Lord, to speak only what You want us to speak and say, in the manner and attitude which would glorify You; the Christ-like way of doing things.
It's so easy to speak evil. Lord, we ask you to set that guard, keep watch over our mouths and lips. Let us strike other people, instead, with our kindness, not with evil words.
Someone once recommended a beauty tip, she advised,
"For beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness."
May we all have such beautiful lips, Father.
May others rebuke us, other brothers and sisters-in-Christ, when we speak and say the wrong things. Also, let us take it in the spirit in which it was meant, for our own good and benefit. Let it be like oil of anointing upon our heads that blesses so that our prayers can be without deceit, without hypocrisy and truly set against the wrong-doers.
Help us to fix our eyes upon You, oh Sovereign Lord, because it's in You we take refuge. You keep us out of the snares people have laid for us; the traps set. Maybe those who know how to get into our head or under our skin that would cause us to speak harsh, angry words. They set those nets but LORD, help us to avoid such "landmines" that we will be able to pass by in safety. Again, let us heap coals of fire upon their heads by pummeling them with kind words, using gracious words, gentle words, spoken in a gentle manner; just like that meek way Jesus had with the general populace during His walk on earth.
Nevertheless, Lord, aid us in our learning to confront through the convictions of Your Holy Spirit in the style in which Jesus also used with the Pharisees and teachers of the Law; those religious leaders who "knew it all". In fact, they did know a lot. They'd studied Your Word but they did not always put them into proper practice in the spirit in which You meant them to be employed in the life of the practitioner.
Oh Lord, we thank-You for any intervention You give us that helps us to speak "gold"; to speak as You would speak. Give us that desire and set a guard upon our lips. Thank-You and praise You in Jesus most precious and sovereign Name. Amen.
~ERC March 2020~
Prayer based on Psalm 141
Scripture Memory Songs with Ben Eaton - Set A Guard
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