Psalms 140-142, 1 Corinthians 14:1-20 • Key Verse: Psalm 141:3

We probably get into trouble quicker by what we say than any other, means. A moment of speaking before thinking can result in damage that seems beyond repair. I sometimes say that I have two goals: one is not to begin a sentence with the words, “Don’t quote me on this,” and the other is not to end a sentence with the words, “Just kidding”

The books of Proverbs and James have plenty to say about what we say. Both give us warnings that should help us pause before we speak. We also can learn from those books how to speak.

Still, we come back to the problem of execution—doing what we know we are supposed to do. Too often we find ourselves “hung by the tongue.

David gives us an example to follow. It is not to “count to ten” or some other technique to practice. It is what you would expect from a godly person. His approach was to pray.

Notice that it was hot a prayer of the moment, as in, “Help me not to say this!” but a prayer for a consistent quality of speech. He prayed, “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips” (l4l:3).

We need a gatekeeper, one who watches over our mouth. If we make that our prayer, God will help us so that what goes out of our mouth is only that which the sentry allows to pass.

_Pray the prayer of David, “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”_

Woodrow Kroll & Tony Beckett
www.backtothebible.in