Placing a Guard Over Our Lips

Pastor Randy Corbin, Transitional Lead Pastor

When I asked our teenage granddaughter how I could pray for her, she immediately responded, “that I will think before I speak.”

“Hmmm,” I thought, “that should be my prayer as well.”

Eruptive wordiness seems to come so easily and silence so arduously. On a few rare occasions, I have practiced the spiritual discipline of silence only to discover that I would blurt out something every once in awhile.

The tongue is such a fascinating gift, but when we let it out of control, this tiny member can bring horrifying, sometimes irreparable destruction.  It can poison with hate, anger as a result of arrogance, humiliate from insult, destroy relationships from cutting remarks, spread gossip from slander or simply drivel to anesthetizing boredom.  All with little or no thought.

Look in the mirror and observe this most powerful of body parts.  What was meant for good can contort itself to utter the worst painful of words.

James seems to suggest the only person who could reach perfection would be someone who never said anything wrong (James 3:2).  The psalmist resolved, “I will keep a muzzle on my mouth” (Psalm 39:1).

The Desert Fathers were convinced that over-speaking gets us involved in the affairs of the world.  They suggested that every conversation tended to interest them in this world, to make them in heart less of strangers here and more of citizens.  I suppose that depends on the focus of our conversation.  But, honestly, few of our conversations tend to be spiritual.  We are more drawn to earthly, unthinking discussions.

Writing and speech instructors have frequently touted the effectiveness of the economy of words.  Speaking few words and writing shorter thoughts.  Of course, that requires a lot more work, i.e. thinking strategically before we speak (or write).

Jesus most powerful comments were brief nuggets.  Abraham Lincoln’s most famous speech, the Gettysburg Address, was given in a few brief moments. 

Out of silence and forethought, God spoke the creation and what a beauty it is and we are!  Let us drill deeply in strategic thought and godly meditation from which we can draw the life giving waters of vitality and hope to those around us.

“Oh, Lord, help us to think, before we speak!”