Guarding Your Lips

 

By: Sarah Geringer 

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
    keep watch over the door of my lips!

Psalm 141:3 ESV

Our lips have been covered up by masks for about 18 months now. I'm looking forward to getting my lipstick back on when I don't have to wear a mask any more!

Though our lips will no longer be covered, we still need God to guard them for us. Why? Because "the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness" (James 3:6) and "no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison" (James 3:8).

Our tongues get us into a lot of trouble. But we must first open our lips before our tongues spill those words that hurt so much, the ones we want to take back.

When I make this verse into a prayer, it's amazing how often I recognize I need God to be my mouth guard. My lips need to be bridled around my family, friends and even around strangers. The more the Holy Spirit convicts me right at the gate of my mouth, the more fruit I produce for his glory.

Though this verse applies to the words we speak, it can also apply to what passes over our lips. You can also ask God to guard your lips when you are tempted to overeat. It's one of my arrow prayers in situations before I eat for comfort: Set a guard at my lips, Lord. 

Your lips are a door for either good or evil. It's just too challenging to control that door yourself. But God is ready and willing to help you. When you ask him to be your mouth guard, he will give you his Holy Spirit as a faithful helper. Here's a prayer to get you started:

Father God,

I praise you as my guard and watchman.

As the mask comes off my lips, I invite you to guard them.

I want my words to build up instead of tearing down.

I want what passes over my lips to edify me rather than destroy me.

Holy Spirit, I ask you to keep watch over what I say and what I eat.

May you bear the fruit of self-control at the door of my lips.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

In which areas do you need God's help in guarding your lips? I'd love to hear from you in the comments, and I'm happy to pray for you too.

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Have a blessed weekend!

Sarah Geringer
Finding Peace in God's Word

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