The Guard by Maria Hartman

All of us have seen them. They are located at banks, prisons, museums, malls, and establishments where expensive things are kept. Guards also stand in front of courtrooms, and in front of doors to palaces. Their job is specific; they are to protect what is inside by not allowing what is on the outside to enter.

David speaks of a guard as well in Psalm 141:3, although there is a notable difference. Set a guard, O LORD, before my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. David is speaking to his God about something that I have spoken to my God about as well. Oh the mouth; that dreaded thing under the nose, right above the chin! The guard is a request for help, but THIS guard faces toward the mouth. The concern here is not what goes in from the outside, but what comes out from the inside. The first part of the next verse says, Do not incline my heart to any evil thing.......The heart is never hidden when the mouth opens. They are intricately tied together like a pulley system; what originates in the heart is pulled right up to the mouth and given a voice.

Recently, I have known the personal heartache and pain from words which were said with bitterness and malice. For the one who spoke them, there was no guard to keep the words inside, nor was there any desire for a guard to be present in the first place. It again reminds me that it is only when we truly want godliness and seek holiness that the Lord will empower us to resist what the flesh does best. Without a sincere and humble desire for the LORD'S intervention in this area, we have no ability to overcome our weakness. But when we ask for it, we get it. God's power is evidenced, when upon attack, that dangerous door remains closed, no matter the call to come out. It is also heard in the purity of our speech though we may be wounded to the core. God calls us to speak His forgiveness and His grace to ALL those who need it; if we cannot, then we must for His glory, keep the door shut.

Even David, a man after God's own heart, knew of this battle that all of us face. The tongue is impossible to tame on our own. But when the LORD is in control of our heart, our words will reflect His gentle nature, and maybe, just maybe, our 'guard' can step aside for a time so that our mouth can open with His eternal purpose.

FOR TODAY: Lets open wide the door of our mouth to speak truth, to encourage and uplift another, and to spread the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ. Our mouths were not meant to be silent but to PRAISE Him. Psalm 146:2 While I live I will praise the LORD; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. He is listening right now......In a dark and desperate world, sing with joy to the One who loves to hear the voices of His own.