REPENTANCE IS ASKING GOD TO GUARD MY MOUTH AND HEART

This week, I am exploring what God says about REPENTANCE. As I enter prayer now, I reflect on God’s instruction: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” 

Lord, I repent of my sin and am blessed by Your forgiveness.   

Thank You for Your grace and mercy in my life. 

Let us consider the Word of the Lord from the Psalms and Proverbs: 

Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips (Psalm 141:3). 

Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin (Proverbs 13:3). 

Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity (Proverbs 21:23). 

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23). 

 My lips are like a door.  I must keep them shut from offensive and harsh remarks yet open them for endearing and encouraging words. 

If I guard my lips, I am preserved from rash remarks which lead to ruin.  When I stir up trouble or mimic the harsh words I receive from others with the same foul attitude, I am ruined. Having a guarded tongue requires me to think before I speak and provides me with time to respond with words that build up and encourage rather than tear down. 

Lord, I desire to stop feeding my mind  

with worthless things, so the fruit of my lips  

will sing Your praises and not my own. 

It is time for a heart checkup.  Today, is my heart full of greed?  Pride?  Anxiety?  Anger?  The Lord wants me to carry my heart heavy with evil to Him for cleansing.  Nobody wants to walk around with a heart full of these things. 

Lord, guard my heart and warn me when these things sneak in; I confess they do not belong.  I repent of these sins and ask You to help me think clearly about them.  

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.