Top 20 Occasions to Keep Your Mouth Closed [podcast]

David’s Prayer Should be Our Daily Prayer

“Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” Psalms 141:3

1. IN THE HEAT OF ANGER

“He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.” Proverbs 14:17

“Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.” Ecclesiastes 7:9

“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Colossians 4:6

2. WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE ALL THE FACTS

“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly (foolishness) and shame unto him.” Proverbs 18:13

The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.” Psalms 37:30-31

3. WHEN YOU HAVEN’T VERIFIED THE STORY

“At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.” Deuteronomy 17:6

4. IF YOUR WORDS WILL OFFEND A WEAKER BROTHER

“And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?” 1 Corinthians 8:11

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29

5. IF YOUR WORDS WILL BE A POOR REFLECTION OF THE LORD OR YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:” 1 Peter 2:21-23

6. WHEN YOU ARE TEMPTED TO JOKE ABOUT SIN

“Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.” Proverbs 14:9

7. WHEN YOU WOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOUR WORDS LATER

“The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” Proverbs 8:8

8. WHEN YOU’RE TEMPTED TO MAKE LIGHT OF THINGS THAT ARE HOLY

“Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.” Ecclesiastes 5:2

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37

9. WHEN YOUR WORDS WOULD CONVEY A WRONG MESSAGE

“He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.” Proverbs 17:27

10. IF THE ISSUE IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS

“The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.” Proverbs 14:10

“But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.” 1 Peter 4:15

11. WHEN YOU ARE TEMPTED TO TELL AN OUTRIGHT LIE

“Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.” Proverbs 4:24

12. IF YOUR WORDS WILL DAMAGE SOMEONE’S REPUTATION

“An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.” Proverbs 16:27

“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8:33-34

“The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips. 24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” Proverbs 16:23-24

13. IF YOUR WORDS WILL DESTROY A FRIENDSHIP

“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” Proverbs 25:28

14. WHEN YOU ARE FEELING CRITICAL

“Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.” James 3:9

15. IF YOU CAN’T SPEAK WITHOUT YELLING

“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” Proverbs 25:28

16. WHEN IT IS TIME TO LISTEN

“A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.” Proverbs 13:1

“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” Proverbs 9:9

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20

17. IF YOU HAVE TO EAT YOUR WORDS LATER

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Proverbs 18:21

18. IF YOU HAVE ALREADY SAID IT ONE TIME (then it becomes nagging)

“A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.” Proverbs 19:13

19. WHEN YOU ARE TEMPTED TO FLATTER A PERSON

“He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:” Proverbs 24:24

20. WHEN YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING INSTEAD

“In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.” Proverbs 14:23

“And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

PRAYER:  Holy Father, we come to You in Jesus’ name. Please circumcise our hearts and cause that which comes out of our mouths to be spoken in Your wisdom and love. Please teach us to have the tongue of the learned as You did LORD Jesus. Bless us to be silent when appropriate. Please unite our hearts to fear Thy name LORD. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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