Let my Mouth Open only for Good–not just Tasty!


Psalm 19:14     Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight, Lord

Psalm 141:3, 4     Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.  Do not incline my heart o any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men who work iniquity; and do not let me eat of their delicacies.

Proverbs 13:3     He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.  

Proverbs 18:6-8     A fool’s lips enter contention, and his mouth calls for blows.  A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.  The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, and they go down into the inmost body.

Proverbs 23:2     And put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.

Proverbs 23:20-21      Do not mix with winebibbers, or with gluttonous eaters of meat; for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty. . .

Proverbs 25:16     Have you found honey?  Eat only as much as you need, lest you be filled with it and vomit.

Matthew 15:11   Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.                         

Romans 12:1     I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God which is your reasonable service.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17     Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?  If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20     Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

Ephesians 4:19      Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. 

Ephesians 4:29      Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying according to their needs, that it may benefit to those who listen.

 Galatians 5:23     Fruit of the Spirit ……. Self-control

James 1:12        Blessed is the man who endures temptations; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

James 3:8-10     But no man can tame the tongue.  It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.  Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not to be s

I frequently have problems with my mouth—in many ways.  Often, I will stuff food and whatnot in that I don’t really need, often when I am not hungry or in need of any calories.  Because I totally like many foods and sweets, I frequently reach in for “just a taste.”   Often that then turns into a full helping, sometimes a second or third helping, or taking some home for later.   Food is not just nourishment to me—it can be an addiction.  I love sweets, I love potatoes and savory chicken, fish, pizza, even grilled veggies.   It’s not uncommon for me to grill onions, mushrooms, peppers together that I will share with a grilled meat; the next day will enjoy the grilled veggies with cheese on top—maybe ricotta, maybe just American.         

I have been known to sip too much wine—then have the unsteadiness to prove my mouth has been over-filled with something that is not good for it.   Tastes, textures, sweetness, savory, gooey and chocolate-y, or baked fruit goodness—although my mind can remind me to not pig-out, frequently I find my hand and mouth are disobedient; and calories are taken in.  In all honesty, I don’t look for a way out of temptation—rarely do I even pause before taking a sliver, a tablespoon, a thin slice, or even a full slice, savoring for the moment those tastes and textures. 

Now, once the yumminess is gone, I usually have guilt feelings, and THEN decide I will NOT do this again.   EVER. . .well, until the next time.  I truly wish I was one of those who ‘ate to live instead of living to eat.’  I do so love food.  

I wish I valued it as a means of maintaining health, strength, weight—but that is secondary to me.  I love taste—the smells before the taste ever hits my tongue, the texture, and all the sensations that go with it.  I therefore tend to overeat—because those tastes are so appreciated.  The fullness, the feeling of being stuffed and tied tightly with something across the middle is NOT.  But part of the consequences of over-indulging.   I think this will always be something I have to work on—ask the Holy Spirit to show me the way to avoid pigging out.  When satisfied—STOP—He always supplies what I need.  He does not appreciate gluttony. 

The other aspect I should remember daily is that there are still hungry, starving folks in this world.  How can I justify then being a hog-let?   Hogs are not lovely animals to watch—in any manner.  We are blessed to have so many foods available to choose, to purchase, to cook and to enjoy.  But to eat in excess is a sin—and I need to remember this.  I need to look at my fasting plans again

Overeating, therefore gluttony, is a form of selfishness and greed, which leads to .taking in more than the body needs or is allotted to have, and can become an addiction just as damaging and sinful as gambling, drugs, alcohol, and any other addiction.

But my mouth is not just disobedient with intake—it can also spew out ugliness.  This, too, I have been working on for a while—and even I can see an improvement.   I am not sharing my negative or judgmental thoughts—and trying to corral them as they are forming in my head to stop them with the very stern reminders that I AM NOT able to judge another; if I judge anther, I better be able and willing to suffer through the punishment I have thought another should have; and no one wants or should hear my thoughts unless they are positive and loving—or at least able to show another a positive spin. 

I want to say graceful and loving things, encouragement, prayers for healing, peace, strength, discernment, praise for jobs well done, words that let others know they are loved and respected.  What we speak comes from the heart.  (Ephesians 4:29, Ephesians 5:4, Matthew 15:11).  I do not want to speak ugly and vile, defiling things.  There is so much negative chatter one hears everywhere.  It is depressing and tiring.  It beats one down.  Politics, doom and gloom from the news media—and if anyone has read the Bible more than a couple of times—we are told there will be natural disasters, wars, violence and so forth before His second coming.  I am aware, this is not news for me—and although I pray for the family and friends who are not saved—I have been praying for them for years, and I choose to believe, they will turn in at least by their last moments.  But I know—as disobedient as I still am—He chose me, and there is a home for me in eternity that will not be catching on fire forever and ever.

You have always been too good to me.  You have been merciful and gracious and full of love.  I have not.  Lord, I am asking You to control my mouth—let me not be an over-eater any longer—let me appreciate a few bites, and NOT feel I must gorge more.  I throw out more food at times so I can enjoy the second or third time.  Let me rely on You—and not over-indulge.  Please put a picture in my mind of those who are hungry so I will not gorge.  Human mouths can be full of vile things spewing forth — cursing, gossiping, anger, hatefulness, judging, and deviousness. 

Lord, You know I am sinful with gorging when I am not hungry and I have chosen to overeat.  A sin of gluttony.   And then my mouth can spew out angry words, cursing, impatience, frustration instead of what I should say all the time–words of praise and thankfulness to You and all You have blessed me with.  You have abundantly blessed me, and there should be no angry talk, no gossip, no curses coming out of my mouth.  How disgusting to have praise for You one moment then shortly later say something that is not gracious, kind, gentle, loving or patient.  I am so sorry Lord,.

Holy Spirit please continue to help me with my mouth and controlling what goes into it and certainly everything that comes out of it.

Lord, You deserve to hear nothing but praise and thanks from me and “mybellaviews.”

 

“Keep your words sweet, you may have to eat them.”   The Great American Book of Church Signs, Donald Seitz, Publishing Com, Nashville, TN  37212

                                                                       

 

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