"Guard My Lips, O Lord"

"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29)

I have some questions. What was your mouth like when you were living in the ways of the world? What kind of words were uttered out of your mouth? More specifically, was your language output four letter words meant only for the gutter?

While never attractive language, there is an understanding that our transformation had not yet begun. We were brand new, and necessary changing takes place over time.

What was it like for you when you first become convicted by Holy Spirit that the words of your mouth were offensive to Him? That you needed to cease and desist; that you needed to clean up your language? With God's help and with sensitized spirits, we made a decision to clean up our act in many ways. Each time we would utter something foul, we felt immediate conviction, and we further felt we were wounding the Spirit of God within us by our language.

By His grace, over time, our words became blessed and no longer did we utter gutter talk.

Yet, I ask: have you run into seasoned Christians who continue to use unwholesome expletives as though it were unimportant? It's no big deal to speak in this way? It doesn't matter?

Don't misunderstand! We may all on rare occasion still slip, as we do in many other areas. I am speaking of using "colorful language" as a way of speech in expressing oneself and finding no self-fault in doing so.

The Word of God is clear: "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth ..."

For ALL of us who number among God's saints, whether brand new or seasoned in the faith,

"Guard our lips, O Lord."

May this be the prayer we utter for ourselves from our lips:

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight,

O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

Amen.