may the words of my mouth

God has been challenging me about the words of my mouth. This week I was led to reflect about it through psalm twelve. The psalmist talks a lot about those with flattering lips. In their oily lips, lies are found. Their tongues are boastful and deceptive. They double talk, declare empty promises and overblown claims. Our tongues will prevail - hear them say! Their own lips will defend them - who is lord over them?

But the words of the Lord are pure words, flawless words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. Perfect words they are. His words are completely free from all flattery, insincerity, deception or lies. 

And I love the words filled with hope in the end of the chapter: You, O Lord, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever. And so we cry - Father, guard us, the poor and the needy ones, we, faithful children. What assurance we have in Jesus: we can trust in God's protection upon our words. He is our strength, our shield, our rock, our fortress, our stronghold. Guard us forever from the temptations of our time. Help us to model our words after your refined words. Your words are true, well crafted, kind and calm. Your words are like the summer breeze, sweet whispers in our ears, calming the storms of our soul. 

May those around us find the same sweetness in the words of our mouths. O Lord, eliminate from our lips words that are flattering, malicious or unnecessary. May our words be true, economical, few, wise and well chosen, calm and kind, leading to Spirit filled conversations. Forgive us for talking too much because of our pride, or talking too little because of our fears.

Reflection developed from Tim Keller's book: The Songs of Jesus