Psalm 141:3-4

Psalm 141

3 

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

4 

Do not 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!

The reminder that we are still sinful, imperfect beings is ever present. It can be so discouraging when we are trying to do what is right, and we still end up missing the mark (Paul has a great discussion about this in Romans 7). But I think our focus is in the wrong place.

Despite our inability to be sinless, we should definitely still try to abstain from sin- but not in our own strength. We can try our hardest to not mess up, but we will never be successful- that is why we needed a Savior in the first place! But we can, like David in this Psalm, ask God for help through prayer.

David asks God to set a guard over his mouth and to watch over his lips. In other words, he asks God to help control his mouth. He prays for help to keep him from saying things that do not glorify God. Are you struggling with your words? Maybe your language doesn’t reflect the ‘new creation’ you are in Christ. Maybe your sarcasm is not edifying and encouraging those around you. Maybe you forget to think before you speak and end up saying things you wish you could take back. You can also pray that God would not only keep evil words from you, but that He would speak through you the words that He has for others as well.

David’s prayer continues and he asks God to keep his heart from ‘inclining to evil.’ Basically, he is asking God to keep him from desiring things that are wrong. What a powerful prayer- rather than just asking God to help you not sin, ask Him to keep you from even wanting what is causing you to stumble. God can and will change the desires of your heart if you allow Him. What is your heart ‘inclined’ to that is not glorifying your Heavenly Father?

Finally, David asks for God to help keep him from the company of the wicked, who are doing evil things, so that he himself doesn’t get caught up in their evil works. In the Christian life, this is so important! The company you keep, your circle of influence- is also influencing you. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the things your friends are doing. If it is sinful, you’re often neck-deep before you even realize what’s happening. David doesn’t just ask for help resisting the sin of the people around him, he asks for help to not be in the company of those people. He says ‘let me not eat of their delicacies.’ This could mean something like not buying into the ‘sweet’ lies that they offer, but it could also just mean let this not be the type of people I am breaking bread and eating with (because you typically eat meals with those who are your friends). Let your best friends, the people that you surround yourself with most regularly, be people that are keeping you accountable and helping you grow in your faith - not those that are pulling you down in sin with them.

Hebrews 4:15-16- For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.