Mouth

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Psalm 34:13-14     Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.  Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Psalm 141:3-4     Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!  Do let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!

Proverbs 10:31-32     The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.  The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.

Proverbs 13:3     Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.    (I think this is special for me with coarse talk and over-eating).

Proverbs 15:4     A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Proverbs 23:2     …and put a knife to your throat if you are prone to gluttony.

Jeremiah 1:9     The the Lord put out His hand and touched my mouth.  And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth….”

Matthew 6:11     Give us this day our daily bread       (Only what I NEED)

Matthew 12:36-37     I tell you on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

Matthew 15:11     it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.

Luke 11:3     Give us this day our daily bread              (Only what I NEED)

1 Corinthians 10:10,13,31    … nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer…   No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, He will also provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. . .  So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Ephesians 4:29     Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth, but only such as is good for building up ,as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear

James 1:19     Know this, my beloved brothers; let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God

James 3:5-10     So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.  How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness.  The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set fire by hell.  For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tanned by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue.  It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.  From the same mouth come blessing and cursing, Mr brothers, these things ought not to be so.

1 John 5:21     Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

 

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, 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 that 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.

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 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.  My mouth – any mouth is a nasty place.  Mouths are full of germs—any bites are a danger whether from an animal or a human; they can over-indulge, and they can spew forth vile things—gossip, cursing, anger, hatefulness, judging, and deviousness. 

Close my mouth if it can not honor You with intake and output.  I only want to honor You.

Thank You, Lord for Your steadfast love and patience and mercy.  You have so blessed me and ‘mybellaviews.’