Psalm 141:3 - Yak, Yak, Yak, Yak, Yak . . .

"Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips."

What a nation of talkers we've become.  Most times it seems that if we are not talking, there's something the matter with us.  Cell phones have become appendages on the sides of our faces.  Thumbs have calluses on them from texting.  And if we're not on the phones, we're on our computers, IM-ing, facebooking, twittering, blogging and the like.  We have this compulsion to always be verbal in one way or another.  Why?  Whatever in the world do people find to talk about so much?

I believe if we could eavesdrop on the majority of these conversations, our poor ears would instantly rot and fall off (wow, now there's a picture or you!).  First of all it would simply be the language, the cursing and vulgarity.   That by itself is enough to make curly hair go straight!!  But then, the topics of these conversations are vile, slanderous, and killing of the spirits.  Evil in the sight of the Lord.

Jesus told us that what is in our hearts will flow out of our mouths.  Bitterness, anger, hate, prejudices, bigotry,  jealousy, envy and the like roll off our tongues in gossip and slander, causing others to have negative, dangerous thoughts and feelings about others.  And by some slim chance you don't repeat anything, simply listening gives credence to the speaker.  But if our hearts are filled with the joy of the Lord and the fruit of the Spirit, then our words will bring life, peace and the light of Jesus Christ.  Compassion and mercy will bubble up from the well of life within us, making melodious sounds to the Lord as we speak gracefully and thankfully of the things of God.   The words from the Christian mouth are to build up and encourage, not tear down and destroy.

How and what we speak tells the world what god we follow.  In the past week, to whom have you spoken and what did you talk about?  Was Jesus glorified?

"Sweet Jesus, lover of my soul, forgive me.  I am a person of unclean lips and I live among people of unclean lips.  Change my heart, my Savior, so that I may be like you.  Cause me to be mute unless you are glorified by my speech.  Take away all desre to take part in any gossip, let my words be holy and pleasing unto you.  Amen,."

SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE:

Psalm 19:14
Ecclesiastes 5:1-3
Matt 12:35-37

Deuteronomy 6:6-7
Psalm 59:12
Proverbs 8:8
               18:4,21
                19:1,9