Today’s reading continues our journey through Psalms, chapter 39.
As a previous journal writer indicated, I found myself being a bit dismissive and somewhat bored while reading through recent chapters in Psalms. Most of the first thirty-nine chapters of Psalms are cries for help, preservation, faith, shelter, and protection. David continues to pour his heart out, crying out to God, bearing his trials and challenges to the Lord.
Then, I truly read and absorbed the words of Psalms 39. This chapter reached me at a time when I have been working on myself, in this exact area of my life, that David spoke about.
1 I said, “I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue;
I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle,
While the wicked are before me.”
2 I was mute with silence,
I held my peace even from good;
And my sorrow was stirred up.
3 My heart was hot within me;
While I was musing, the fire burned.
Then I spoke with my tongue:
4 Lord, make me know my end,
And what is the measure of my days,
That I may know how frail I am.”
You see, one of my many challenges is the sin I commit with my tongue. Many times, I speak without thinking, I react with emotion, and I say things that are not centered on Jesus’ command to us, the day before He was crucified. Jesus commanded in John 13:34-35
34 “A new commandment I give to you,
that you love one another; as I have loved you,
that you also love one another.
35 By this all will know that you are My disciples,
If you have love for one another.”
The words we speak matter. Jesus commands us “to love one another,” so His followers set an example for those that are not followers. Verse 35 is clear, “all will know that are you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
I am focused on softening my heart, which I know impacts the words that cross my lips. For me, restraint of my temper, impatience, and speaking words that I don’t think through is my daily challenge and burden. I want to be aware of the moments when I let my guard down and not say something I will regret later. I want to love Jesus with my whole heart, each day, and not just on Sunday’s. I want to be the type of Christian that non-believers look to with admiration, curiosity, and respect, not with mistrust and doubt.
This world tempts me to conform to its’ ways.
- This is a “dog eat dog world.”
- Don’t let people push you around.
- Stand up for yourself, don’t be a “doormat.”
- Hit first and ask questions later.
I am learning that I can advocate for myself, express my beliefs, make my point, all the while deliver my words with grace and love. Being nice does not cost me anything. Being kind does not make me weak. Responding with vitriol words that hurt someone erodes the example I want to set as a follower of Jesus.
One of my favorite scriptures in the Bible, is James 1:19-20.
19 So then, my beloved brethren,
let every man be swift to hear, slow
to speak, slow to wrath.
20 for the wrath of many does not
produce the righteousness of God.
My prayer is that by admitting my burden, in this area of my life, this somehow speaks to you. My hope is that my admission of one of the sins I am trying to fix, challenges you to address some of things you might be considering in your life.
