Jul
19
Guard Over My Mouth
Filed Under Daily Devotions
SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 17; 2 Chronicles 28; Psalm 46; James 3
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. ~ James 3:9-12
OBSERVATION:
A tree can only produce one type of fruit or berry, a stream can only produce one type of water, so too our mouths should only produce one type of words. We are hypocrites when we praise God and then speak badly of our brothers and sisters. I love how v.9 points out that men have been created in God’s likeness. Genesis clearly states we were created in His image – we are to reflect Him.
APPLICATION:
Sometimes, I’ll say something about someone and then I’ll wonder why I said it. I’ll question myself and ask what was the point of me saying that? Do I really want these other people to look badly at that person? Or do I not want them to see my own evilness, so by saying something bad about someone else, I deflect my own wrongs.
I’ve been quite frustrated lately and I’ve been a wee bit negative and as my brother likes to say, a “pissy pants”. When I let my frustration take over, I don’t always have a handle on the words that come out of my mouth or the thoughts that overtake my mind. I just let them roam freely as they please. Then this same mouth praised my Lord and Father. It’s like smoking a cigarette and then going to kiss your sweetheart. The aftermath of your filthy words linger and it’s transfered to the one you love. What a beautiful gift.
PRAYER:
Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. (Psalm 141:3)
This was a great one for me to read. I will read the others another time.
I haven’t called you back because we have been going through medical issues with Tim. Please keep him in your prayers as we just learned that he has cancer and he has several spots.
Connie