Guarded Mouth

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. - Psalm 141:3 NASB Words are a terribly difficult thing to control. A word can slip out without a single thought and it immediately reaches its target. Words spoken carelessly can inflict wounds, betray our true desire for a person and even lead us further from fellowship with the Lord. The Psalmist was wise to pen these words, for apart from the Lord we have no hope of controlling the words that we say. Yet, the importance of asking the Lord to guard our mouths could not be overstated!

In Christ

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, - Ephesians 1:3 NASB In considering the reality of our identification with Christ we can come to a growing understanding of why we must place our confidence in Christ: Because we are IN CHRIST! Placing our faith in Christ is not like placing our faith in a government, which may operate many miles away from us (and without our direct involvement). Rather, our confidence in Christ is more akin to our confidence in an airplane in which we are passengers. Our faith/trust/confidence doesn't keep the airplane in the air, nor does it change the direction or ultimate destination of the flight. Our faith and confidence, however, DOES affect how we will live while we are one the airplane.

Careless Words

Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! - Jam 3:4-5 NASB Careless words can be very costly. A word that was spoken in simple jest can cause a hurt that may never be fully seen. In a culture that esteems witticisms, sarcasm and humor it is easy to say the most horrible things in the context of a joke. It is easy to think that our words don't matter, or that we can have a little fun at someone else's expense, but such is not the love of Christ. May we all be careful with our words, using them to build others up in Christ, and never to harm them.

Where does my help come from?

I will lift up my eyes to the hills - From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2 Whenever I hear this verse my thoughts are always directed to the beautiful mountains of Colorado. I think of the amazing Mountain-Maker who has taken responsibility for my care. However, when David looked up towards the mountains he saw the "high places" of the pagan systems of worship. These verses were written as an open refutation of trusting in any of the false gods of the pagans. Of all of the things that man longs to worship and trust in only the Lord is worthy of our praise, worship and preoccupation. When we look to the mountains in amazement may we always remember the One who made the mountains.