Weight Loss Scripture Day 21: Guard your Mouth
April 21, 2010 by Kim T
Filed under Weight Loss Scriptures
Day 21: Christian Weight Loss Scripture
Every day in the month of April, I will post an encouraging scripture on my website that I hope will instruct and inspire you on your weight loss journey.
Today’s focus scripture is taken from Psalm 141: 3-4:
Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,
To practice wicked works
With men who work iniquity;
And do not let me eat of their delicacies.
When I first read this scripture, I chuckled because I thought that this could be a dieter’s prayer! Not “dieter” in terms of deprivation, but one who wants to be discerning about what passes through the doors of her lips.
I am not sure whether David was speaking about being discerning concerning the things entering his mouth through the foods he ate or about things exiting his mouth through the words he said. The scripture could apply to both, but I’m inclined to think he was speaking more about the things exiting his mouth.
In Matthew 15:11, Jesus said to the Pharisees who were offended because his disciples did not wash their hands before they ate bread, “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
Jesus was saying that what you eat does not make you dirty or unclean spiritually, but that which comes out of your mouth. What you speak reveals what is going on in your heart. As the scripture says, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34).
While being discerning about the words you speak is priority, I believe you must set a guard regarding the foods you eat as well. Now it is true that the foods you eat do not make you spiritually dirty or unclean, but they do affect you physically.
For example, if there are certain foods that you eat that sap you of energy, then you have to decide if you need to guard against them entering your mouth. If you fail to set a guard, then you are choosing to allow them to rob you of energy, which leads to living a low energy life.
I wrote about the importance of handling little things yesterday and this is certainly a case of little things (food choices) having a big impact over time.
So if you are having trouble with un-beneficial foods entering your mouth or un-beneficial words exiting your mouth, then know that through today’s scripture you can ask God for empowerment to handle both!
Be blessed in health, healing, and wholeness,
Kimberly Taylor, C.W.C.
Certified Wellness Coach
Author of the ‘Take Back Your Temple’ ebook
http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book
What is a gravatar?
My main comment is that I am really enjoying these Scriptures. I am chewing on them and God’s Word is Food also. After being a diabetic for several years my sugar has decided it wants to act up. I guess in the past I never really accepted the fact that I was a diabetic and did not eat accordingly. Now I am checking my sugar often trying to see what foods affect me and what foods don’t. I am having to really limit my carbs and what kind of carbs I put in my mouth. I covet your prayers. I know God wants me to get a grip on this and lean on Him daily. He is my all. I thank Him for what He has done for me in the past, what He is doing for me in the present and what He is going to do for me in the future. I just want to be an obedient servant with a heart tuned towards Him.
Hi Stephanie,
Ha, ha – let me answer the gravatar question first…it is a picture that will appear beside your post instead of the white outlined figure that is showing up now on the right.In fact, you reminded me to set mine up! You can learn more here:
http://en.gravatar.com/
You have my prayers concerning the diabetes. You will experience victory in this situation as you implement the wisdom God gives you about the foods that work well with your unique body chemistry. I too am sensitive to carbs and sugars, which is a bummer since I like to eat them. But like you, I had to face reality and stop ignoring the facts staring me in the face! And my life changed for the better when I did. I was even able to get off my high blood pressure medication when I did. My blood pressure is controlled without it.
It sounds like you are on a good path, Stephanie. Stay on it and victory is yours!
I am praying for God to guard my mouth and indeed I mean what comes out of it. I can be harsh. I don’t edify with my words I can cut deep. Above that even a worse situation for me is that I talk endlessly. I have anxiety so I do relate some of the chattiness to that.
I am a good girl. In fact I am generous. I am able to overcome. I have lost over 100 lbs. I can control what goes into my mouth. I feel for you girls who struggle with weight and dieting. I too struggled for years with different diets. As you well know that leads to loss, then putting the weight back on and then some. I went to God with this telling Him I have no temperance asking Him what to do. In His infinite wisdom He simply told my heart to “Reduce Your Intake” Who knew? So simple and here I was making it so so hard. Guess what? I don’t have Big Bones!
May God be the one to guide you all as well.
Prayers, Lori
Hi Lori – I think many of us have problems with controlling our tongues. I know I have said hurtful things in the past and regretted it later. That’s why my prayer is to be quick to listen but slow to speak. Yes, ensuring that you are eating the amount that your body requires and not eating to deal with emotional upsets is an important part of weight loss. I had to laugh at your comment about not having big bones! I can identify because for years when I was overweight, I used to tell myself that I was a “big girl”. Like you, I discovered that was not true. I was just using that to justify my big food portions! I praise God he has shown me the truth. I know you are thankful for the same.
God bless you,
Kim