Lord protect me from myself

[Micah Yarger]

The thought

I fear that the biggest threat to my ministry will be my tongue. It is a threat because of the thoughtless things I say, and also for the things I should say but don't.

Here Is a scripture for meditation

James 3

¹Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. ²We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

³When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

⁷All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, ⁸but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. ¹⁰Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. ¹¹Can both fresh water and salt^[a] water flow from the same spring? ¹²My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

The prayer

Dear Lord, Please protect me from myself. I confess that I have a wretched tongue and an even worse mind. Father take both my tongue and my mind, as I deeply, faithfully repent from my sin, and clense them by the power of the Blood of Christ. Take my tongue, use it for you glory. It is yours.

[James Nored]

The tongue can be used for hurting others or lifting them up, cursing God or praising him. Just imagine how different the world would be if we only used our tongues to build others up. Imagine a world with no gossip, sarcasm, rude comments, cursing, or harsh criticism. Sounds like . . . the kingdom of heaven.

Micah, I hope that we can all do better in controlling our tongues.

[STEPHEN L DUNN]

However, one of God's most precious gifts is also a tongue to proclaim the Word