This verse, Set a guard. O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips' reminds us to be careful about what you say; I remember listening to my mum having random conversation with the ladies at the check-out of our Supermarché Casino, being impressed at how she could muster courage and speak to complete strangers, being kind and caring. My mum was not shy and she'd love to say encouraging words to others. Our Lord wants us to pay attention at what we say. And I must confess that it can be very difficult depending on who you talking to or rather depending on the things people say to you. The term 'winding you up' comes to mind. This is when I call on the name of Jesus for help as I have realised I can't do nothing without Him.
What about you my brothers and sisters, do you find taming your tongue hard?
What comes to my mind is this other passage in James.
4 And a tiny rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot wants it to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.
6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
7 People can tame all kinds of animals and birds and reptiles and fish,
8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it breaks out into curses against those who have been made in the image of God.
10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! James 3:8
James does not mince his words! Not only what he talks about sums up most of we hear everyday on the news, irate wifes or husbands, politicians, scandals of all sorts, murders and of course deadly wars. As followers of Jesus, we are called to 'guard their mouths and their tongues' and as a result 'it keep themselves from calamity.' Proverbs 21:23-24.
One more verse to keep on our heart!
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29
Have a blessed day. In Jesus' name. N.
