Some of my friends and I often refer to whether or not our “filter” is working. You know, the filter that determines what of the stuff that goes through your mind actually gets said out loud and what stays locked safely inside.
Some days the filter works well. Others, well, not so much.
And when it doesn’t work, what comes out isn’t pretty. One of my friends uses the phrase “emotional vomit” on her blog site and I think that is a pretty good description of the stuff that comes out of my mouth when my filter is on the fritz.
I have had a week so far that has been quite a challenge for my filter. There have been moments when I am not sure just how well it is working. There have been others when I am pretty sure the “emotional vomit” quotient was pretty high.
Fortunately, most of the time, I was just getting it all over myself and not others, but that’s not great either.
So tonight, I am praying this verse:
Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
-Psalm 141:3
Because sometimes my internal filter isn’t enough. Sometimes (ok, all of the time) I need to have the Lord guarding what comes out of my mouth. Because what I say needs to be edifying, uplifting, and Christlike. Not Chrisy-like.
Lord, help me!
How about you? Filter or Guard?