Be with My Mouth

Proverbs 29:20 (NIV) ²⁰Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them.

Proverbs 17:27a (NIV) ^27aThe one who has knowledge uses words with restraint...

Proverbs 4:24 ²⁴Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Ephesians 5:4 (NIV) ⁴Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thangksgiving.

It isn’t always pleasant to realize that we need reminders about our speech; some of us more frequently than others. Guarding our words, especially in a heated or difficult moment isn’t easy; but it is part of living a Christian life that shows the world the love of Christ. Fortunately, the Bible does not only contain warnings, it also contains positive goals about what our mouths should be producing.

Ephesians 4:29 (NIV) ²⁹Do 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.

Job 13:5 (NIV) ⁵If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.

Matthew 5:37 (NIV) ³⁷All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Colossians 4:6 (NIV) ⁶Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

The verses I have provided above are by no means an exhaustive list. I am quite confident that you have your own favorite ‘go to’ verses for both warnings and positive guidance. However, there is one additional thought I would like to explore. We understand that the Bible is not a book about us. Although we find excellent examples for Christian living, ultimately, the Bible is a book about God, our Heavenly Father, the LORD God Almighty. If we follow that line of thought; what do we know about how God uses speech? Does He ever speak in haste? Does He ever use coarse joking or teasing? Indeed NOT! God says what He means, and He means what He says! Furthermore, sometimes His silence speaks volumes!

Psalm 141:3 (NIV) ³Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.

Psalm 19:14 (NIV) ¹⁴May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Lord God Almighty, my Heavenly Father;

Be with my mouth and what it speaks.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

The devotional  Be with My Mouth appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com  

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.