By Tom Norvell, taken from Heartlight
The Psalmist writes:
Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips (Psalm 141:3 NIV). Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips (NLT). Help me to guard my words whenever I say something (CEV).
Father,
put a guard over my mouth when I am about to say something I should not say.
Whether it is a word that is untrue,
a word that is negative,
a word that is critical,
or a word that discourages,
Lord, stop the words before they come out of my mouth.
Close the door of my lips and prevent the words from leaving my mouth.
Father,
take control of what I say.
Help me think before I speak.
Help me pause before I speak.
Help me consider my audience before I speak.
Some things are inappropriate for some to hear.
Some things are inappropriate for all to hear.
Some things do not need to leave my mouth.
Father, guard my lips and control what I say.
Father,
help me guard my words when I say something.
Help me make sure that the words I speak are worth hearing.
If they are not, let me be silent.
Being quiet may be better than being foolish.
Being silent may be better than being critical, judgmental, or destructive.
Father,
sometimes there are words of encouragement that need to pass through my lips,
let them through.
Sometimes there are words of hope that need to be spoken,
let me speak them.
Sometimes there are words of exhortation that need to be shared,
please don’t let me remain quiet during those moments.
Father,
there are times when someone needs to hear that I love them,
let me say those words.
There are times when someone needs to hear that I appreciate them,
let me say those words.
There are times when someone needs to hear something hopeful,
let me say those words.
Help me to guard my words whenever I say something.
Father,
there are times when I am afraid to speak.
Please remove the fear that prevents me from speaking on behalf of the weak,
the oppressed and the helpless.
Please remove the fear that keeps me quiet when a child is neglected, abused, or ignored. Please remove the fear that prevents me from speaking when someone needs to hear of Your love for them.
Help me never to miss an opportunity to speak for You.
Father, there are times when I need to speak,
and times when I need to be quiet.
Give me the wisdom to know the difference and the courage to respond accordingly.
Father,
guard my lips.
Open them when they need to be opened and allow the words that need to pass through them to pass.
Close them when they need to be closed and prevent any word that might do damage to another soul from passing through.
Help me to guard my words whenever I say something.
I promise you that on the day of judgment, everyone will have to account for every careless word they have spoken (Matthew 12:36 CEV).