“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies. . .But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless.” Psalm 141: 3-4, 8 ESV
I call this a dangerous prayer because God will so faithfully show me where my thoughts and speech and action do not match what I say I believe . . .
Listen to Jesus,
The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speak,“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Luke 6:45,46 ESV
What I think really does matter. What I think will eventually “bleed out” into what I do, and what I say. Notice that the plea to God to guard his speech focuses first on his heart — his inclinations; his attitudes.
“busy myself” — to occupy time
“work iniquity” — from the same root as Idol, or nothingness
In other words . . .time wasters; empty junk that takes the place of loving God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength, and loving my neighbor as myself.
things that keep me from
[being] reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands that the word of God may not be reviled. . . Titus 2:3-5 ESV
For me, daily facebook; romance novels (yes, even “Christian” ones); soap operas; blogs that denegrate marriage, family and motherhood.
I’m not saying live in a bubble.
However, we do live in the reality of 24 hours in a day. And every minute of those 24 hours will be spent somehow. David knew that the key to wise and good speech was to make God his refuge. Throw himself on God’s mercy and sufficiency. Not to waste his time in places and on things that would distract him from his one focus . . .
What is distracting you?
What is stealing your focus?
Will you pray a dangerous prayer?
Plea for Grace 