Beyond Common Sense

This is my favorite feature on my laptop, especially because I often accidentally brush the touchpad with my thumb which signals my computer to highlight and delete a portion of my writing!  How wonderful to be able to undo the unwanted action!

Oh, if I could only do the same with some of my words and actions: a harsh, critical word, a roll of the eyes, a Mr. Sticky sticky bun! What if we could just hit a button and the unwanted words and their affects would be gone, or the extra sugary calories would be eliminated from my system!  Sad to say, it doesn’t work that way; however, God does give us some advice!

Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.Ps 141:3

Here, the Psalmist is asking for help—asking the Lord to guard his mouth.  That’s a great way to start every day: make it an active part of your prayer time in the morning and throughout the day!  When you feel those nasty words building in the back of your mind, think of your lips as a beautiful door that the Lord has given you to send for blessings and not cursings.

 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD,

my strength, and my redeemer.Ps 19:14

Here’s another “watch your words” verse, spoken straight from the heart of prayer.  If we ask for the LORD’s criteria for the words we speak—words that are acceptable in [His] sight–that will illuminate those “undo” moments of speech!

Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. Pr 12:22

This verse happened to be a memory verse from last year’s Bible Club.  I can still hear the kids saying the word abomination!  It really made an impression on them and me!  It’s quite a strong word. Who wants to be abominable in God’s sight?  That thought alone sparks me to keep my words truthful.  Abomination or delight—seems like a no-brainer!

 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.Pr 4:23

And here’s the key: keeping our hearts—working hard at it—knowing that all the issues of life flow from the heart.  Backing up to the heart and making certain it is scrubbed clean with the word is the best antidote for keeping our words and actions clean as well.

The following three verses have been Club Verses for various children’s programs we have used over the years.  Somehow, just reading them in sequence seems to sum it all up!

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;

teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.Col. 3: 16

  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.1 Cor. 15: 58

…for one is your Master, even Christ. Matt. 23:10

There’s no “undo” button in the Christian life, but there is a “can-do” one!

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13