Devotion for Friday, June 7, 2019

“In my trouble I cried to the Lord, and He answered me.  Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips,
from a deceitful tongue. What shall be given to you, and what more shall be
done to you, you deceitful tongue?” 
(Psalm 120:1-3)

No matter how far you progress,
you are only as good as your worst moment. 
It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes
out.  The Lord knows what sin has done to
the soul.  The one who turns to the Lord
becomes sensitive to the depths of depravity to which we have fallen.  Cry out to the Lord in all of your trouble
and He who hears your prayers will listen to your cry.

Lord, You know my heart.  You
know the depths to which sin has ravaged me. 
Bring me out of the pit that I may learn to not speak what is deplorable
nor think what is unthinkable.  Guide me
by Your grace to think those things which are pleasing in Your sight and thereby
guard my lips.  Help me now and always to
listen to You that Your Word may dwell richly inside of me.  Deliver me from bondage to sin.

Jesus, You have come to set the
captive free.  You died on the cross that
we would be freed from sin.  Yet, sin’s effects
still have a hold on my heart.  Lord,
there is no excuse; only Your grace can change me.  Lift me up by Your mercy that I may overcome
those times when I fall for the depravity within me.  Lead me according to Your Word that it would
be Your Word that comes out of my mouth. 
Amen.