Tuesday, April 20, 2010

The Mouth!

Posted by Tracy Wainwright at 7:39 AM
Does your mouth ever get you in trouble? Do you open your mouth? Chances are, the more you open your mouth, the more likely it is to get you in trouble. I open my mouth a lot! However, it doesn't get me in trouble as much as it used to.

I was recently reminded that my mouth still has the power to get me in trouble. The answer to why it doesn't get me in trouble as much as it used to as well as how I should deal with my most recent verbal sins (I looked for a different word, but none came, because if what we do or say is against God's commandments, it's sin - plain and simple) is the same. That answer is to look into my heart. I must confess my transgression to my God - which I've learned to do more quickly - I must examine my heart and ask God to wipe it clean and fill it with His word and love, and I must let it go.

I have a tendency to play things over and over in my mind. Where did it go wrong? What should I have said? What will I (hopefully) do if I'm faced with a similar situation. I've learned that this is not helpful, and worse, is most likely the fruit of the devil. He wants me to condemn myself and feel guilty for as long as possible. God wants me to confess, lay it at His feet, and let it go.

As I process where I am with my mouth, how far I've come with my mouth, and where I still have to go, I turned to the best place to go for advice on anything - the Bible. I did a quick search on "mouth" [at http://www.biblegateway.com/]. I was expecting to find several verses referencing the mouth. I was not expecting to find over 300 references! God made it very clear that I need to turn to His word more. Especially on things that I'm trying to give up to Him to change in me.

I took a sampling of those verses that are related to where I am with my mouth. The first: show the ability of our mouths to damage others and it's connection to the heart.

Psalm 5:9aNot a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction.
Psalm 17:10They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance.
Matthew 15:18But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.'

Second: what we should be doing with our mouths.

Psalm 37:30The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.
Psalm 71:8My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.
Job 16:5But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.

Third: the importance of taking our words to God and asking Him (and others) to pray that we use our mouths and words for Him.

Psalm 19:14May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Ephesians 4:29Do 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.
Ephesians 6:19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,

I could expound on these verses, but they speak for themselves. Our mouths are important! We need to be conscious of what comes out of them, how those things affect others, and go to God to make changes. As God's people, we are accountable to our mouths, "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34)

0 comments on "The Mouth!"

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

The Mouth!

Does your mouth ever get you in trouble? Do you open your mouth? Chances are, the more you open your mouth, the more likely it is to get you in trouble. I open my mouth a lot! However, it doesn't get me in trouble as much as it used to.

I was recently reminded that my mouth still has the power to get me in trouble. The answer to why it doesn't get me in trouble as much as it used to as well as how I should deal with my most recent verbal sins (I looked for a different word, but none came, because if what we do or say is against God's commandments, it's sin - plain and simple) is the same. That answer is to look into my heart. I must confess my transgression to my God - which I've learned to do more quickly - I must examine my heart and ask God to wipe it clean and fill it with His word and love, and I must let it go.

I have a tendency to play things over and over in my mind. Where did it go wrong? What should I have said? What will I (hopefully) do if I'm faced with a similar situation. I've learned that this is not helpful, and worse, is most likely the fruit of the devil. He wants me to condemn myself and feel guilty for as long as possible. God wants me to confess, lay it at His feet, and let it go.

As I process where I am with my mouth, how far I've come with my mouth, and where I still have to go, I turned to the best place to go for advice on anything - the Bible. I did a quick search on "mouth" [at http://www.biblegateway.com/]. I was expecting to find several verses referencing the mouth. I was not expecting to find over 300 references! God made it very clear that I need to turn to His word more. Especially on things that I'm trying to give up to Him to change in me.

I took a sampling of those verses that are related to where I am with my mouth. The first: show the ability of our mouths to damage others and it's connection to the heart.

Psalm 5:9aNot a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction.
Psalm 17:10They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance.
Matthew 15:18But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.'

Second: what we should be doing with our mouths.

Psalm 37:30The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.
Psalm 71:8My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.
Job 16:5But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.

Third: the importance of taking our words to God and asking Him (and others) to pray that we use our mouths and words for Him.

Psalm 19:14May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Ephesians 4:29Do 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.
Ephesians 6:19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,

I could expound on these verses, but they speak for themselves. Our mouths are important! We need to be conscious of what comes out of them, how those things affect others, and go to God to make changes. As God's people, we are accountable to our mouths, "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34)

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