"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth keep watch over the door of my lips.
Psalm 141:3
"Whoever guards his mouth and toungue keeps his soul from trouble."
Proverbs 21:23
"A soft answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness." Proverbs 15:12
The past week has been a bit stressful for our family. It was a different Thanksgiving this year as our youngest grand daughter is currently in the hospital and other family members have been ill.
We have faced the reality of what is, and will gather together as soon as we are all healthy enough to do so. Lots of prayer and communication with one another has been vital during this time.
Sadly, I have been made aware that some of my "communication" is not as kind as it should or could be as I have allowed worry to creep in. Although I have felt the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, the splinter of doubt and the "what ifs" festered in my soul. Without warning, harsh words flew out of my mouth over something trivial. Thankfully the one to whom I spoke sharply to knows me well and is loving and forgiving, but still, I was shocked by my tone and my words. They are not representative of who I desire to be.
Oh how well I understand Paul when he struggled with his own humanity and trying to live as Christ would have us live. (See Romans 7:10-24)
Perhaps that is the beauty in every trial we face. God in His mercy and grace allows us to see that we need Him in every moment, in every detail of our lives. There is nothing we can do to make ourselves into His likeness other than living transparently so He can shine through us.
And so, I will offer this bit of my struggle with my own humanity in hopes of being transparent so that He can be seen.
It is His grace that is sufficient. Nothing of myself.
And for that, I am deeply thankful.
May He grant each of us the wisdom and discernment needed each day to live in the grace He has so graciously given.
