“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
keep watch over the door of my lips!”
– Psalm 141:3
This is a fantastic prayer! The Bible – Old Testament and New – is incredibly clear from beginning to end about the terrible, destructive, and even demonic power of what comes out of our mouths. Jesus said that what comes out of our mouths reflects the reality of our hearts. James described the tongue as a fire that burns down our lives, a restless evil filled with poison.
What about YOUR words? What you speak? What you sing along to? What you type or text? What you like or share? Is this an area where you struggle with sin? What about when you’re hungry, angry, lonely, or tired? Have you confirmed your answer with God?
May we all take the words of Scripture seriously and guard our mouths. May we stop any toxic words that would flow from our tongues (or fingers if we use technology). Let us regularly ask God, with utmost seriousness, to actively guard our mouths from sin. To watch the door of our lips so that nothing vile would burst forth or sneak out. In our present age of manufactured algorithmic outrage, Christians need to pray this prayer with greater urgency than ever before. We must be different from everyone else! #FollowJesus