A STAY OUT OF TROUBLE PRAYER

PSALM 141:3-4 NKJ 
3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; 
Keep watch over the door of my lips. 
4 Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, 
To practice wicked works 
With men who work iniquity; 
And do not let me eat of their delicacies. 

OBESRVATION:

As I was reading this Psalm, I noticed it sounded different from many of the other Psalms. I was a little surprised to see it was a Psalm from David.   

He is praying about staying safe from the wickedness, the evil in the world. But his prayer is not as much being delivered from the evil in the world. His prayer is that he not fall into the evil. That he not go in the wrong direction.   

Starting with the mouth. David is asking the Lord for help in watching his mouth. He wants help in being aware of his words. 

Isn't it interesting that David mentions the mouth first? I believe he had divine insight into the importance of words.   

Then David asks for help in keeping his heart in the right direction. A heart too absorbed in wrong thoughts will lead to wrong action.  

And finally, David wants to be spared from involvement with people who are acting and practicing things contrary to God's ways.   

Keep my mouth. Keep my heart. And keep me from involvement with people doing wrong. Sounds like a good prayer to me.   

APPLICATION: 

Any area that requires help or change, I typically suggest starting with the mouth. Our words are some of the quickest ways into trouble. But they are also a great way out of trouble. Proverbs 18:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue. James 3:4-5 likens our tongue to the rudder of a ship. We can use our words to steer us in the right direction or wrong direction. So, we ask our Heavenly Father to help us become much more aware of our words.  

And we want our heart focus to move away from the things that trip us up. This will invariably involve our thoughts. What we keep on our minds. Our heart is impacted by our focus.   

The right heart and mouth will help us associate with those who are on the right path. We are not trying to insulate ourselves from people who are not following God. But we do purpose to stay off their path of wrong works.   

PRAYER: 

Dear Father, please alert me to my words that I might use them for good. Help me align my heart to walk in Your ways. And make me a light to those in darkness, not their partner in wrong.