Self-Control

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. – Psalm 141:3, NKJV

How many of us have said something in a fit of anger and then later wish we could take the words back? How do we prevent this from happening again? Do we take a deep breath and count to ten or do we simply walk away until we cool down? Or do we ask God to help us?

James wrote in his letter that the tongue is a nasty little member. It can wreak havoc if we don’t learn to control it. Unless we keep our mouths shut, our tongues cannot express what’s in our hearts or in our minds. This is why we ask God to set a guard over our mouths. We must be mindful of what we say. If we’re angry with someone, it’s best not to say anything until we can do so calmly. Once we open our mouths, we cannot take back the anger, the hurt and the pain our words cause. Words can ruin relationships and friendships.

Ask God to help you to guard your mouth so that you don’t use it to lash out at someone. Ask Him to keep watch over the door of your lips. It’s like having Him guard what you say and to keep the door closed until the words you want to say and replaced by His words. His words will turn away strife and diffuse what could turn into an ugly situation.

One of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is self-control. He is our defense against the flesh. So, the next time, you feel that anger coming on, threatening to erupt, ask the Holy Spirit to take over.