"I said to myself," I will watch what I do and not in sin in what I say." Psalm 39:1
My Take Aways
Something Old:
Consider every word a gift (The Message) that it may be a blessing to give God's favor to those who hear it.
If my words are gift, what kind of gift am I giving?
If my words are gift, what kind of gift am I giving?
Something New:
The connection of our key verse to Psalm 15: 1 and 3 as well as Ephesians 4:29.
Ephesians 4:29
Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift. (The Message)
Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it. (Amplified)
Something to Do:
Watch my words.
Psalm 141:3
Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.
Psalm 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
17 Comments:
Dear Wendy and all,
I agree with the person who posted yesterday that there are too many nuggets in the Psalms to keep up with! I was particularly touched by 3:
First, I also camped on Psalm 39:1 and 2, but I read into it something a little different. Please note that this nugget is mine alone, commentaries do not discuss this. In verse 2 David says "But as I stood there in silence - not even speaking of good things - the turmoil within me grew. This brought to my mind 1 Peter 3:15 - "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect"
When I am in the presence of the ungodly (and by that I mean people who don't know God), if I stand silent, the turmoil within me grows. God has been working on me to be a faithful witness to the hope that is in me, and many times I hesitate because I want to be accepted by the world. Then I am convicted in my heart and my thoughts burn within me (Psalm 39:3). To do: Always be prepared to give the reason for the hope that I have.
Second, I was struck by Psalm 40:1-3. This relates to my post on Sunday and all the great encouragement I received from all of your posts. "He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise for our God." Indeed! Let's get this party started in the style of Jennifer Renee and her spiritual mom! "I will praise you as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands!" (Psalm 63:4)
Lastly, Psalm 55:22 - Give your burdens to the Lord,
and he will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall..
This puts me in mind of Matthew 11:28-29
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
Another to do: give my burdens to the LORD and learn from Him. Pay attention to His word and to His examples because He is gentle and humble at heart and His Yoke is easy. It is easy to follow His training when I am walking side-by-side with Him, yoked to Him, not straining against it.
Thank you Lord for your word today. You have been faithful to grant me my portion for today, my bread, food for my soul. Keep me yoked to You today and guide my footsteps on your path.
Be blessed today,
Karen, Basel
The one verse that jumped out at me today was Psalm 55:22. Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
1 Peter 5:7 says, Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
I know that no matter what I'm going through I can go to God in prayer. I don't always find it easy to let go and let God handle things for me but I know he will take care of me because he cares about me.
Good morning GIG! God has allowed us another day to glorify Him! Amen!
Olivia - I read your late post yesterday about a friend who didn't care for your Psalm 37:23-24 post on facebook? I referred back to it and in my margins I wrote "this is like a parent to a child"....I found it to be a Psalm full of love. I would have been delighted to read it on your facebook and am glad you posted it on there...you never know who may read it and turn their face toward God.
Wendy - I too stand convicted of Psalm 39:1...my mouth is too quick to go off. It is a daily process of allowing God to refine my words.
Psalm 40 is so amazingly encouraging to me. "Oh the joys of those who trust in the Lord"...the truest of true words.
I see a little Jesus coming our way in our reading today! "Who will come from Mt Zion to rescue Isreal?" JESUS!
"He ransoms me and keeps me safe" JESUS! Yay Jesus....and Yay God for Your Words that are so alive!
Praise Him everybody!
Morgen
Wendy, Great teaching today! The section discussed at the beginning stuck out to me as well. David was so keenly aware of his purpose here on earth. Humbly, he followed God. He knew his life was brief, and precious - and was so thankful to have opportunities to share his faith.
"I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say: I will hold my tongue" (39:1) - I need to tuck this in my heart, to where it comes out easily from memory.
God is working in me re: this very thing between my mother and myself. I love her dearly, but she also drives me crazy. By clinging to God, He has shown me so much about her, and allowed me to desire to help her and love her with compassion; however, the enemy. Yes, indeed, he just won't give up. He darts things at me right and left, to get me to revert back to my old thoughts. Over and over again, I try to "fix her, and tell her what to do," when I know in my heart God wants me to let go of this and let him to he work. The words come out, and I know immediately I've sinned once again!
Each word is a precious gift. May every word I say be of benefit. Using my words at the right time. And, for the right reasons. Paying close attention to what I say, and how I say it!
Karen, your insight was powerful! I'm working on being more ready to, as you said, "give the reason for the hope that [I] Have, but with gentleness and respect."
Many verses stuck out to me, but one flew off the page! It went right along with what you said yesterday, Wendy about "wanting my desires, to be His desires." That was on my mind all day long yesterday, and I prayed, that I would grow to want to do, truly want to do -what God wanted me doing.
Today, David says, "I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart" (Psalm 40:8). Wow, there it is AGAIN, back to back readings! Oh, that I would be joyful doing what the Lord desires of me! That as I read His Word, daily, I would come to know His Will for my path. That I would be so in tune to His whispers, that I would know what He desires of me. Wow. Today, Lord, help me take delight in doing your perfect will for me.
Not, what I want to do. But, what You want me to do -and SAY.
Sister's let's search for Him today in His precious Word, and be filled with joy and gladness in Him! (Psalm 40:16).
Sweet blessings coming your way! Lori
PS Sweet Olivia, what you wrote yesterday on your facebook...well a verse reminded me of it today:
"I have not been afraid to speak out" (Psalm 40:9). Bless you sister for listening to God's whispers! Continuing to pray for a Godly man to come your way.
Good morning, GIG's
Morgen, I'm with you today with my nugget:
Psalm 40:4
"Oh the joys of those who trust in the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud
or in those who worship idols."
And I also ditto your remark to Olivia -- someone visiting you on Facebook, Olivia, may have benefited greatly from you remark!
Feeling kind of overwhelmed today with "kid stuff" -- wedding, the BIG exam, graduations, job hunting, etc. etc and needed to dab at my tears, take a deep breath and ask the Lord to help my household "finish strong."
Tennessee girls, how ya doin?
Have a great day everyone,
Peace and Gratitude,
Michelle in Sunny, Chilly New England
Ha ha ha , Lori, my beloved twin, we did it again!!!!
Thank you ladies for your extra verses. I needed reminding that God cares for me and I'm to cast give ALL my anxiety upon Him. First, I had to "humble myself under the mighty hand of God" as in 1Peter 5:6.
It sounds like a challenge to us, Wendy-say only what helps, each word a gift. We like to give and receive gifts, don't we? Words aren't expensive, so we can give a whole basket full of loving and encouraging words, free of charge.
Can I hear a "The Lord is great!" in unison? We take JOY in doing Your will, our God. (Even if it's laundry or dishes, we praise Him for our life and family.)
Remember your basket of encouraging words as you head out the door today. If your memory is like mine, we better set a real basket there, with the Bible inside it:)
Hugs to all,
Linda from Ark.
Wendy thank you for your encouraging words that we are reminded that every word is a gift!
I was also convicted by my words especially when they are quick to anger or to sarcasm.
I am continually asking God to deliver me from not choosing my words carefully when I am either upset or even excited about something.But all in all I am amazed of David's humility as he confesses to the Lord in Ps 40:12 that he has been overtaken b y his sins but he repents of these. It is so important to continually seek Him and let Him change our hearts. Even when we have gotten ourselves in deep... Ps 55:16 states that we will call upon God and the Lord shall save me. Eve and morning and at noon I will pray....this reminds we how important we need to dwell in the Lord throughout the day.. Oh sometimes we mean well and we feel we can tackle the day and the moment we set our eyes away from God ohh how I easily fallen back in my sinful ways and need to refocus on Him. I feel this especially in the area of eating well, where I mean to start my day off well and then something sets me off and I start munching away.
Lord I thank you for your mercy and grace upon us they are new every morning!!
Have a great Tuesday girls!
Paola from Long Island, NY
Oh, Karen and Jennifer, such words of wisdom today. Thank you for sharing.
Today, I landed on being called to action, then the Lord's response.
Psalm 55:16 "But I will call on God"- my action, "and the Lord will rescue me"- God's response
Psalm 55:17b-18a "I cry out in my distress"- my action "and the Lord hears my voice. He ransoms me and keeps me safe" God's response.
Psalm 55:22 "Give your (my) burdens to the Lord" my action "and He will take care of you (me)" God's response.
Wendy, I love your transparency. Yes, words are a gift. Sometimes, though, I am accused of not using them.I need to remember they are a gift and use them accordingly.
His because of grace,
Gaylene
Hi Everybody,
Wendy…..I could use this reminder every day.
Like a lot of you… they are all so good. I had so many highlighted…..sitting beside my husband last night while doing my reading….he asked Me, “Why are you underlining most of it?” ?? :~} ?? I guess ….God was really talking to me yesterday.
After more studying into the psalms:
“Speak”….
Hebrew the word for “speak” debar, is also the word for “create”.
Only speak the word, and my servant will be healed.” (Matthew 8:8).
To Do:
“Only Speak the word!!”….Our words need to be His words. Keep underlining and learning His words. What to say and how to speak!
As an integral part of Scripture, the Psalms, simple yet dynamic prayer, bring us into the presence, peace, and power of God. They have power to heal, change, guide, comfort, and give life. As one saint put it. “scripture tills the soil of your soul.” With such tilling, God’s life can grow and bear fruit in us.
“Is not my word like fire….like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” (Jer 23:29).
I also found this Psalm Note interesting:
Psalm 117, the shortest psalm with only two verses, is the center chapter of the Bible’s 1,189 chapters. The middle line of this psalm is “For great is his steadfast love towards us.” Coincidentally this is the main theme that runs through the entire Bible.
Only In Him,
Rhonda
Karen I loved your insight.
Good morning, GIGs.
Didn't have to go far to get my nugget today. Right there on the first two verses of Psalm 39: “I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say.
I will hold my tongue
when the ungodly are around me.”
But as I stood there in silence—
not even speaking of good things—
the turmoil within me grew worse."
The problem is not so much the holding back my tongue as I'm a private person anyway, it's my attitude towards the person. For instance, this person at work irritates me to no end because she wants her nose in everybody's business, then complains she can't get her work done. I may not say anything to her in words but my attitude towards her sometimes...not so godly. That's why I'm so thankful for this group. It keeps me grounded and reminds me that God wants to transform not only us but those around us as well. Praying that we can be good witnesses where God placed us.
Karen, amen.
Olivia from yesterday, I read the Psalm you posted and did not see anything that might be construed offensive. My pastor always says, when God's word provokes a such strong reaction from someone, take heart it means God is wrestling with them.
Have a blessed day, everyone!
Hi Just Me back again...Just want to emphisize a little more on the statement of :
Hebrew the word for “speak” debar, is also the word for “create”.
...First Story of Creation. In the beginning, when God "CREATED" the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.
...Then God "SAID", "Let there be light,".....The light that just went on in me right now is unexpainable
**"Speak"....."Create"....Wow!!**
Just filled with some awesome and unexclaimible wonder right now.
Morning G&P also:)....attitude is something I need work on also.
Rhonda
Hey GIGS! Just letting you all know that I have been in the Word, just not with y'all on the comments since last week. When Mama comes to visit each month, I truly am her caregiver. It's difficult to get that computer time in when I need to focus on God's Word and Wendy's vlog and your comments. I decided a few months ago to not stress and just get to the vlog when I could. So, I'm back! Missed y'all too!! Hope you all had a Happy Mother's Day!
Wendy, your nugget jumped out at me as well. Mercy! Especially 39:3...I can let thoughts dwell in my heart and my head until I'm afraid that they will come out and not sound loving at all. The references that you all mentioned are great. This is one to really pray about.
Speaking of prayer, my prayer partner just called and asked for more prayer for her daughter. She's 10 and has had some coughing and breathing problems for 5 days now. The dr has her on meds and a nebulizer, and she took a steroid last week too. They are on the way to the hospital for x-rays right now. Her mom is worried, and I understand. Would you please lift up Sydney in prayer for me? I would so appreciate it.
Sending y'all hugs! And, hoping that each of my words is a gift--loved that!
Blessings,
Susan
Hello GIG,
It's been a minute since I posted, but wanted all to know I'm still here.
My Nugget:
Ps. 53:2
God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God.
Father, help me to be the one you find, with wise words in my mouth, a worshiping heart and a faithful praise through all that life has to offer.
Seeking to please the Lord in word and deed is my desire.
Debbie - North Carolina
Hi all,
The Psalm that has call to me is 55:16-17, 'But I will call on God, & the Lord will rescue me. Morning, noon, & night I cry out in my distress, & the Lord hears my voice.' I am dealing with health issues that have me crying out, 'God do You hear me?? Do you see what is happening?? Are You there?' HE does answer, it just not the answer I want. BUT HE hears my voice, He hears my cries, He give me what I need. I thank HIM for all, in all things I praise HIM! Psalm 11:4 'the LORD is in His holy Temple rules from heaven & watches everyone closely' & the whole of Psalm 23, these are a comfort to me! Please pray for me, that all will be well. Thank you!
May I be the lamp that HIS light will shine through.
Blessing & Peace, Mary
I always have trouble reading Psalms when things are good, but when they're not, they just seem to jump to life. Yesterday they popped right out there.
A young teacher at my neighbor's church is dying of cancer right now. She may have only hours left. Her dad died of cancer, as well, and only her mom and brother will be left. She's in her late twenties. Can you pray her Home, please?
We found out yesterday that our former tenants in our other house (which we want to sell and only rented because we couldn't) are trying to sue us because they broke the rental contract. It doesn't make sense and our lawyer doesn't think we're really in any trouble, but I don't want to go to court. I want to be a peaceful person, but we don't see a way around this one - especially since we're not the ones filing. Anyway, the Psalms yesterday and today just seem to FIT where I'm suddenly finding myself. We feel helpless, surrounded, attacked, unbelieved ... yet we know that God is in control, will provide for us, will care for us, loves us, and will see that justice is done.
Wendy, I've been in that exact situation. My husband has said that about my words sometimes, too - that what I intend to be funny can sometimes be hurtful. It makes me want to say nothing, but then, at least here in this town, silence is equated with snobbishness, and that doesn't help. Finding the RIGHT words is hard for me, and that's a constant struggle. Maybe I should begin to pray some of these verses.
Words are big in our marriage, too, since that's my husband's love language, and it's not mine. Again, maybe the verse from Ephesians is one that I should pray for us - that I would be able to build him up and strengthen him with my words the way that he desires. I've always tried not to talk negatively about him, but maybe I can take it further and use this verse to help build him up in person .... that just occurred to me ... lots to think about today.
Praying for peace and happy words!
Amy
Hello again my friend - Wanted those who have requested prayers to know that I stand in agreement with you and bring your requests to the Lord.
My goodness - this is one of my weakest ares!! I just finished reading Joyce Meyer's "Me and My Big Mouth" someone is trying to tell me something :-) I too have a problem drawing the line with humor its effects. I should never try to get a laugh at someone's expense even if "i don't mean it".
I could stay in Psalms forever. I am now reading a Psalm for two mornings and then moving on to the next one. I love it!
Well ladies, its time to get on my knees again. Thank you all so much for your insights. It is helping me more than you can imagine.
Kelly
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