Psalm 141:1-4

“Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD, keep watch over the door of my lips”! (v3 RSV)

ABBM sponsored message reads: “Ever wish you could go back in time to un-send a message? The psalmist must have understood that spoken words are not easily unsent, and so he prays that God would set a guard over his mouth, and keep watch over the door of his lips. Because the psalmist also knows that the root of the mouth is the heart, he prays again that God would not allow His heart to be drawn towards evil so he would not take part in wicked deeds.

We must not underestimate the power of the mouth. Words have destroyed homes and cities, and words have built great homes and mighty cities. If we must speak, the Bible advices us to “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29). Instead of letting the mouth control us, we must discipline ourselves to control it. Spoken words are not easily retractable. That is why we must daily ask for grace like the psalmist, to keep a guard over our mouth. The battle over the mouth is a battle of the heart. Jesus says, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” If we would receive answers to our prayers, then we must guard our hearts and mouths. “The tongue has the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21) And we have the bridle to determine what it produces. We should continually pray like the psalmist: Lord set a guard over my mouth and keep watch over my lips. (Psalm 141:3 NIV)

PRAYER LINE: Lord, let my mouth be seasoned with Your words of life.

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A well guarded mouth is evidence of a God – filled heart. (NBC)