When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel answered, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.” Daniel 6:20-22 (NIV)
I mentioned earlier my mouth is most often the source of sin in my life. Actually, not my mouth, but the heart that controls it. Out of my mouth come criticism, gossip, judgment and harshness. My tongue can be sharper than any sword and rip someone to shreds either to their face or behind their back. Once spoken, they cannot be taken back and live a life of their own apart from me. Many times, my words are given in the form of “advice”. I am a fixer and want relationships and lives changed as quickly as possible. So, I am just as swift with a solution that may or may not be the right thing to do. Only God knows for sure. I have learned that the best thing to do when I mess up is to go to the person I have wronged as well as those who heard my words and apologize. But, sometimes, if I have given the wrong advice, it is not so easy to solve. It is best if I can keep from speaking unwisely. I cannot do it on my own, but if I allow God to control my tongue, mistakes rarely happen. Earlier this week, a problem involving some others consumed my thoughts. I had all kinds of things I wanted to say. Ways I thought the dilemma could be resolved. I had a script all planned out in my mind of not only what I should do and say, but how the other parties’ should act as well. The morning of the day that I felt I was ready to speak, I prayed and told God that I only wanted His Words to come out of my mouth. That if anything I was going to say was not of Him, then, to please shut my mouth and keep me from saying anything. I committed that day to do only what would glorify God. Later, when the opportunity to speak came, my prayer was answered exactly as I had prayed it would be. I knew my words must not be godly for my tongue went numb. I could no longer form words to say. My brain and my mouth disconnected, and I was dumb in the old fashioned sense of the word, I could not speak. I tried, but nothing would come out. I stood there quietly as everything else unfolded around me. Others spoke, I kept silent. When it was all said and done, I was sure that God had been at work and with no help or manipulation on my part. The Bible says that Satan is a devouring lion and sometimes, that lion uses my mouth to bring harm and destruction. But, just as He did for Daniel by shutting the hungry lions’ mouths to keep Daniel safe, on that day, God closed my mouth as well. Praise Him that He allowed no hurt to come out of my mouth. I pray that it happens every day as well.
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