Setting a Watch

Here is a good morning prayer, or evening prayer, or a prayer for whenever you are going to be with other people, or animals, or inanimate objects of any kind:  

                         Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
                         keep watch over the door of my lips!

That exclamation point was David's, not mine, although I second that motion.  How I need the Lord to guard my lips, and remind me to speak only what is edifying and encouraging and truthful and loving.  This is hard for someone who loves to talk.  Daily I need His watchfulness to remind me.  

And more importantly, I need to saturate myself with His Word, so even my thinking is edifying and truthful and loving.  "For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart", according to Jesus as quoted in Matthew 12:34.   Long minutes in His Word, soaking it in, meditating on it, absorbing it into my heart and mind, is the first step to speaking rightly.  What fills my heart will fill my mouth.  Oh Lord, set a watch!