Guard Our Tongue

As I read/watch/listen to things in the news, I am often horrified at what I hear people saying.  My mother used to threaten to "wash my mouth out with soap" if she heard me saying anything wrong.  If that was carried out with people these days we might run out of soap!  As I was praying about one particularly grievous thing I heard, I felt the Lord remind me of my responsibility to put a guard over my tongue.  I'm usually pretty careful anyway, but I committed to a new standard of Godliness over my speech.  It starts with me, and you, and those around us.  We can be a Godly example.

"I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue."  Psalm 39:1

"Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one."  Colossians 4:6 

"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 19:14

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control."  Galatians 5:22-23

That's quite a standard for us!!

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."  Matthew 5:16

I pray that my/our speech will "shine" in the world around us where so many are careless with their words.  I want to be a living example of Godly speech!  I pray for the Lord to help us all.