Psalm 141 (Listen)
141:1 O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me!
Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
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!
5 Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;
let my head not refuse it.
Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
6 When their judges are thrown over the cliff,
then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.
7 As when one plows and breaks up the earth,
so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.
8 But my eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord;
in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!
9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me
and from the snares of evildoers!
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
while I pass by safely.
Devotional:
Lord, I call on you; hurry to help me. Listen to my voice when I call on you. (Psalm 141:1)
I praise and thank God because He comes quickly when I need Him. You have probably experienced being verbally attacked and desiring to retaliate. The Psalmist is lamenting a similar situation and he calls to God to control his tongue! He asks God for help so that whatever passes through his lips will be a sweet aroma to God. Do you ask God to guard your speech? Do you ask Him to renew your heart so that you do not even desire to act wickedly? Direct your attention to God and take your eyes off the temptation. God will come quickly. He does not have to come far because He is always with us.
Pray It: Father, help me to turn to you in trust and prayer rather than retaliate against others with harsh words and actions. Forgive me for when I have foolishly spoken and guard my tongue through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Share It: Share a verse or thought from this passage with someone today.