O LORD, I am calling to you. Please hurry!
    Listen when I cry to you for help!
Accept my prayer as incense offered to you,
    and my upraised hands as an evening offering.

Take control of what I say, O LORD,
    and guard my lips.
Don’t let me drift toward evil
    or take part in acts of wickedness.
Don’t let me share in the delicacies
    of those who do wrong.

Let the godly strike me!
    It will be a kindness!
If they correct me, it is soothing medicine.
    Don’t let me refuse it.
—Psalm 141:1-5a (NLT)

Do you ever find yourself struggling to interact with people who are vehement about a certain political or theological point of view? In today’s climate, it seems harder than ever to have civil disagreements about all sorts of issues. I have definitely struggled. Sometimes I agree with a person in theory, but am appalled by the way they state their case. Other times, I disagree with the issue but find myself admiring the person for their maturity and kindness in expressing themselves. One morning this past week, I came across these verses in Psalm 141. I really needed them! Don’t you just love it when God plunks what you need right in front of you?

In the hope that this will help you, too, dear one, if you are trying to navigate “disagreeing agreeably” with acquaintances, neighbors, friends, or even family members, listed below are truths gleaned from David’s words. Even though he wrote them such a long time ago, human nature has not changed. Without God’s help, I’m as prone as David was to mess up.

“O Lord, I am calling to You. Please hurry! Listen when I cry out to you for help!”
When our feathers are ruffled and our dander is up, where should we go? To God, of course. It sounds like David was feeling every emotion and needed God … right now. When I feel my anger rising or my peace crumbling, my first response ought to be: Help me, Lord! I am losing Your peace! I am all upset, Lord. Show me how to respond to this situation.

“Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering.”
After that initial cry for help, David worshiped God. Before an answer came, he bowed low in prayer and lifted his hands in offering to the One who controls the universe. How much easier it is to calm down when we are reminded of our wonderful God, seated on His throne, and remember that we are His and He truly loves our sorry little selves.

“Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.”
If I give way to my emotions and let hurtful words make me all defensive, I often make a hard situation worse. This is the prayer I need: Oh, Lord! Please take control of me. I don’t trust myself right now. Truly guard my lips and keep them closed until I can speak with wisdom, kindness, and Your guidance in my heart and in my words.

“Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness. Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do wrong.”
That word “drift” really struck me. According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, “drift” includes “forgoing of any attempt at direction or control.” When others get angry and irate, we can too easily justify ourselves and drift into the same attitude. We didn’t start it, after all, and it’s hard to reply nicely to someone who is not being nice. The “delicacies” of feeling morally superior, justified in our righteous anger, and bitter about the way we are being treated are still wrong. God calls me to a higher standard of behavior, even when provoked. (Jesus had some words about loving our enemies in His Sermon on the Mount!)

“Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they correct me, it is soothing medicine. Don’t let me refuse it.”
Sometimes we need others to remind us that we are called to love and to speak with kindness and humility, even when provoked. I need to be willing to be corrected. I could be the one in the wrong. Failing is never fatal when we belong to the Lord. It’s an opportunity to admit wrongdoing, confess, be forgiven, be washed clean, and try again.

Dear reader, may God meet you as you open His Word each day. May we represent our Lord Jesus well in our thoughts, attitudes, and words, even when it’s hard. May we all be trained by God’s good counsel in His living Word and be reminded of His everlasting love for us as we seek to please Him.

Oh, Heavenly Father, help me guard my words and my heart. When I am wrong, help me accept correction with humility and the sure knowledge that without You, I am in deep trouble. I need You all the time. Thank You, Lord, for the wisdom of Your Word and for the way You make it come alive to us just when we need it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

You are loved,
Sharon

Sweet Selah Ministries

Vision
To inspire a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth of God’s Word that stillness and knowing
Him matter most—and will be reflected in more effective work and service

Mission
To offer biblical resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)

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