Prayer for a Clean Mouth

Did your mom ever wash your mouth out with soap? I know I had a few mouthwashes when I was growing up. I learned the hard way not to sass or to use foul language.

Fortunately for us all, God doesn’t resort to bars of soap, but “washes us with the water of his word” (look at Ephesians 5:26).

However, He DOES take words very seriously. Look at what He says about the things our tongues produce:

James 3:3-6

³ We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. ⁴ And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. ⁵ In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. ⁶ And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. (New Living Translation, biblegateway.com)

In other words, we can make ALL kinds of trouble with our tongues. Duh. We all know that from experience.

So, here is an idea. Ask God to help bring His cleansing Word over your mouth, over your speech.

Mediate on these verses, (Tillmanized King James Version):

Proverbs 15:2,4

The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly. The curative tongue is a tree of life.

Try praying this prayer:

“God, please help me guard my tongue. Please cleanse my speech. Help me to use knowledge rightly and have words that bring healing and life.”

3 Kinds of Conversations With God

I am reading Tim Keller’s Prodigal God. It is a lovely book with a lovely passage that describes in a lovely manner three different kinds of conversation with God.

1) A business associate you don’t really like: This conversation with God is “goal oriented…with no chit-chat” (nothing personal, just get the job done).

2) A friend: In this conversation with God, you might open your heart to Him about a problem you are having.

3) Someone you are in love with: In this conversation, you will “sense a strong impulse to speak about what you find beautiful about him”.

He likens it to our prayer-styles of “petition”, “confession”, and adoration. “The deeper the love relationship, the more the conversation heads toward the personal, and toward affirmation and praise.”

Keller captures the idea beautifully, I think. All the kinds of conversation are valid, but how wonderful to be so in love (and so loved), that there is much adoration going on in the daily conversation.

I carry on all three conversations with God. How about you?

“Hey, You- God!”

I began taking French when I was in 7th grade. The teacher’s name was Miss Bryan, but that didn’t make any difference the the girl in the third row behind me. Every day for the entire year, Scatterbrained Girl called out,

“Hey, Lady! Hey, You!”

This of course, totally got Miss Bryan’s goat (which I guess was the point). She couldn’t understand why Scatterbrained couldn’t be bothered to learn her name.

Now, I know we are WAY more respectful than that when we pray. However, if we really want to know who we are praying to, it might be good to learn some of the names God calls Himself.

Why not get to know Him better through His names, then use them when you speak to Him?

Here are a few of His names from the Old Testament:

Father of the Fatherless- Av (Psalm 68:5)

The First and the Last- Rishon A Haron (Isaiah 44:6)

God- Elohim or Eloah or YAH (Isaiah 26:4, Psalm 68:4)

God Most High- El Elyon (Psalm 78:35)

God Almighty- El Shaddai (Genesis 17:1)

God My King- Elohim Melekh (Isaiah 68:24)

God the Lord- El YHWH (Isaiah 42:15)

God of Salvation- El Yeshua (Psalm 68:20)

God Who Brings to Quick Termination (He gets things done)- El Ghamer (Psalm 57:2)

Holy One- Qodosh (Isaiah 17:7)

I AM- Hayah (Exodus 3:4)

Living God- Chay El (Psalm 42:2)

Lord God-  Adonai Jehovah (Isaiah 40:15)

Lord Has Heard- Jehovah Shamah (Lamentation 3:56)

Lord of Hosts- Jehovah Tsavah (Isaiah 28:5)

Lord Provider- Jehovah Jireh (Genesis 22:8)

Lord Our Righteousness- Jehovah Tsedeq (Jeremiah 23:6)

Maker- Asah (Isaiah 17:7)

Mighty One-  Abyir  (Isaiah 60:16)

Lord Almighty- Adonai Shaddai (Joel 1:15)

Lord God- Adonai  (Genesis 2:4)

Redeemer- Gha-al   (Psalm 78:35)

Here are some of Jesus’ names:

Jesus Lord- Iesous Kurios  (Acts 19:5)

Just One- Dikalos (Acts 22:14)

The Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8)

The Apostle and High Priest of our Confession (Hebrews 3:1)

The Author and Finisher of our Faith (Hebrews 12:2)

God’s names in the New Testament:

Father (endearment)- Abba (Romans 8:15)

Father- Pater (Romans 1:17)

Holy- Hagiezmos (Acts 2:27)

Mighty One- Dynatos (II Corinthians 13:3)

Do you feel you know God better?