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Ps. 141:3 “Set a guard over my mouth: Keep watch over the door of my lips.” There is no more needful prayer to pray in our personal conduct as believers when we relate to others. We need God to fill us with praise and goodness instead of cursing and bitterness. We need God to be our mouthguard because:-Things can slip off our tongues that are not pleasing to God-Things can be said that hurt instead of helping people.-Hateful words can slander and belittle people-Vulgar words can speak garbage, and the mentality of those who use curse words-We can fail to praise God and speak words encouraging and making a difference in people’s lives.James is not complimentary of the tongue as he describes it is James 3. It is like a consuming fire, it is like a wild animal; it can’t be controlled like we do a horse by putting a bit in their mouths. It is like a fountain sending forth bitter and sweet water.Our words make a difference in people’s lives. As a pastor, I surely know this and can testify that being so true through the years of pastoral ministry. Do we pray for the words we use? Do we ask God for wisdom in the words we use? Do we pray that our speech may be with grace seasoned with salt, that we may know how you ought to answer each other? Col. 4:6.May we remind ourselves that God is the silent listener to every conversation. He hears and knows what we say and the motive we say it with. Only in knowing we speak to Him as we speak to others can we find some measure of control of our tongues. May we minister grace and not practice sin with our tongues and may we constantly be filled with praise and thankfulness to God as we speak on a constant basis.--- Dan Nelson