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Daily Affirmations - Day 5 - Fountains and Streams: Keep Watch

Writer's picture: Alisa B.Alisa B.

Day 5: Keep watch

Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil… (Psalm 141:3-4).


Our Father, without Your Word to keep us grounded and centered, we easily fall into the pride-trap described by the apostle, Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless (James 1:26).


James shows us the great significance of our words — their enormous weight in influencing outcomes. He shows us the immense dangers of an untamed tongue: "a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body..." (James 3:6). And he links the ability for general self-regulation with control of the tongue: Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check (James 3:2). 


Yet the apostle readily acknowledges that we all stumble in many ways (James 3:2). The particularly destructive evils of the tongue can lead us to fall into unmitigated disaster: It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell (James 3:6).


But You call us to keep [ourselves] from being polluted by the world (James 1:27). And You never call us to impossible standards. Instead, Your Word assures us that Your divine power has given us all [we] need... so that... [we] may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption of the world caused by evil desires (2 Peter 1:3-4).


Through our prayer, Father, we today avail ourselves of Your divine power, asking You as David did, to guard our mouths, our lips, our tongues. Asking You to start with our hearts:

Let not our hearts be drawn to what is evil (Psalm 141:3-4).


Deliver us from the havoc and wreckage of careless words, idle words, thoughtless words, hurtful words, callous words, cruel words, hateful words. Deliver us from the pervasive evils of malice, spite, cruelty— often cloaked with anonymity. Deliver us from the putrid shrouds of hate, venom, hostility— often whitewashed with hypocrisy.


And O Father, keep us from the receiving end of evil tongues. Hide us in the shelter of Your presence... from all human intrigues. Keep us safe in Your dwelling from accusing tongues (Psalm 31:20). Keep watch, O Lord!



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