“Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3 NKJV)

An Odd but Memorable Request! And a Right Request!

Back in the 1980s when I was doing radio in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina, I answered the phone off air one morning, while the Clark Sisters’ hit song at the time, “Is My Living in Vain?” was playing. The irritated caller, a woman, scowled, “Would you please play some ‘Holy Ghost’ music, because that —- (She used an expletive) you are playing now ain’t nothing!” I was taken aback. The phone always rang constantly while I was on the air and most callers were great, but that one caught me off guard and left me speechless. While to this day I remember her exact words, her name too (which, of course, I will not mention), I do not remember precisely what I said in response.  I think I was too shocked to say much of anything and probably just told her to enjoy the rest of her day.

I had the Clark Sisters’ music in heavy rotation during my weekly 6-hour Sunday morning program, and “Is My Living in Vain” was also often requested. But the frustrated caller clearly wasn’t feeling the sisters that morning! Maybe she wanted to hear James Cleveland’s “God is,” Andrae Crouch’s “O, It is Jesus” (in my soul), or perhaps something by the Mighty Clouds of Joy. I don’t know. 

But isn’t it interesting that what is hidden deeply within our hearts and souls will eventually come out of our mouths? Jesus said, “Those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile the man” (Matt. 15:18). He further said, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34b). I believe that is why David prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23,24).  A good daily prayer is Ps. 51:10: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”  Now that is a right request! Oh, but meanwhile, “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the doors of my lips” (KJV). My irritated caller should have made that request!

Focus Quote:  “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”   –Proverbs 2511 (KJV)

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