What can I say???

Psalm 71:8 has been part of my devotion this morning. It was so impactful to me that I just felt led to share it this morning so let's take a look at the Scripture.

8 Let my mouth be filled with Your praise And with Your glory all the day.                                                                            Psalm 71 NKJV

How much attention do we pay to our everyday conversation? Do you ever get caught up in a conversation around you and before long you think to yourself, "Did I really say that?" Or maybe the talk around us is about other people and their faults and before long we catch ourselves joining in.

James chapter 3 deals with the "untamable tongue" and compares dealing with it to a bit in a Horses mouth or the rudder of a ship. In both instances they are meant to control what would otherwise be uncontrollable. With the Horses bit, it is an outside influence being interjected or infused into the situation and with a rudder, it is influence that comes from something that is already within. James goes on to say that the lack of effort to deal with it is comparable to a Forest Fire. What happens in a Forest Fire? Not only does it destroy the very things that started it but it also destroys much of the innocence around it.

How much attention should we pay to the words we daily say? Using James' analogy let's take a look at it. Bridles with bits and rudders on ships have the same purpose. They are what is used to help take you to a destination. Without a bit in a Horses mouth, the Horse will go wherever it chooses. Without a Rudder on a Ship the Ship, no matter how magnificent, is at the mercy of the wind and currents. So I guess the answer to the question is actually another question. Where do you want your words to take you?

No, I'm not talking about the destination of Heaven that we all plan to make, although uncontrolled words could put a dent in the plan. Rather, I'm talking about the destinations that occur in this life. Have you ever been around someone that seemed to never have a good word to say? Complaint and discouragement seem to be all that they have to serve up and sometimes it seems that they take a morbid pleasure in doing so. As a rule I attempt to avoid those types of people. Not because I think I am better than they are. But because I realize that the words of my mouth are the meditations of my heart.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.      PSALM 19 NKJV

When you are surrounded by constant negativity, it doesn't take long until you begin to be pulled down that same path and that is not the destination in this life that I choose. I believe the "abundant life" that Jesus promised is for those that choose His presence in EVERY area of our lives and our conversation is a huge area that can either get us there or prevent us from going there. It takes a continual "God awareness."

Developing a God awareness is a discipline worth undertaking. It's not easy, great things generally aren't. But it is worth every effort made toward it. It means that I talk as if He is present in every area of life and the truth is, He is. Or at the very least, He wants to be but He won't stick around long surrounded by talk that does not edify.

So what's the trick? There isn't one. It takes a conscious and deliberate effort but Psalm 71:8 tells us how to go about it.

When my mouth is filled with praise:

~ I can't speak badly of others
~ My thoughts tend to flow in a positive way
~ My desire becomes aligned with God's desires for me
~ I see others in the same way that God sees me

There is additional blessing attached to it as well. His glory surrounds us. You can't have a bad day when He is there.

If you have read this far then I would urge you to begin each day, praying Psalm 19:14 and then at the end of day, take note of your conversations throughout the day. Ask God to help you clearly and objectively and be honest before Him. If you fail, don't give up, simply repent and look for a new opportunity the next day, where "His mercies are new." If you begin to put this into practice I promise you that the rudder of your ship and the bit of your mouth will begin to direct you to a deeper walk in God's presence and that my Friends, is worth the journey.