Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 141:1-4
Ps 141:1-4
1 O LORD, I call to you; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to you. 2 May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. 3 Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. 4 Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies.
Eph 4:29-32
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
James tells us that controlling our tongue is the most difficult task we face in serving God. Paul says that if what we are about to say will not build up others, we should keep our mouth shut. If there is no benefit we should be quiet. Jesus says that our words come from the abundance of our heart. This means that if we are going to control what we say, we must control what we think. Instead of being filled with bitterness, anger and arguing, we should fill our minds with kindness, love and compassion. This will cause us to bring glory to God instead of grieving his Holy Spirit who lives in us and prepares us for our final redemption.
It is easy for us to think how love would change the world. If everyone treated others the way they would like to be treated and only did or said that which would help them, what a wonderful world this would be. We may not be able to influence the whole world but what if each of us began today showing God’s love to everyone with whom we come in contact? We can change our thinking, our speech and our attitudes and in doing so we could change our families, our workplace and the church we attend; it would change our personal world.
Heavenly Father, put a guard over my mouth and keep me from saying anything that is unkind or that would hurt someone else. Help me fill my heart with your love, your compassion and things that are wholesome and good so my speech will be that which blesses those who hear and always brings glory to you. Give me wisdom to say that which will encourage others in serving you. As I go through my day today, help me trust you and remember that you will use everything I face for my good. I ask your blessings and peace on those who are sick and who deal with chronic pain and constant suffering. I pray in the name of Jesus my Lord.
Robert
