Be Purposeful about Keeping Your Speech Pure

Note from today’s Bible reading: Psalm 17-18; 35; 54; 63

Though David faced persecution from his enemies, he knew he was innocent before God. Only God has the right to judge, yet David welcomed God’s judgment, especially compared with the unjust condemnation he was receiving from his enemies.

David offered this prayer to God: “Let my judgment come forth from Your presence; let Your eyes look with equity. You have tried my heart; You have visited me by night; You have tested me and You find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress” (Psalm 17:2-3).

As David described God’s judgment of him, he particularly emphasized his speech. He kept himself from sinning through the words that he used. Yet this did not happen by accident. He “purposed” not to sin with his mouth. He was intentional about what he said and carefully avoided speech that would condemn him.

It is very easy to say things we should not say when we are not careful with our words. James said that “no one can tame the tongue” (James 3:8), which means that if our hearts and minds are corrupt, we will not be able to stop sinful speech from coming out. Jesus said, “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Matthew 12:32). To control our speech, we must get our hearts right.

So be purposeful about keeping your speech pure. We do not want our words to condemn us. Yet the only way to avoid sinful speech is to intentionally and diligently purify our hearts and allow our minds to be shaped by God’s word.