Who Will Watch Your Mouth?

20160808.3:08
Late Sunday Night. I’m in bed.

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭19:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/psa.19.14.niv

I’m watching a Right Now video series, “Watch Your Mouth”. You can see a preview here:

https://www.rightnow.org/Content/Series/196794

I went to Universal City Walk to meet up with some friends on Saturday night. It was for my old college roommate’s wife, Christine’s birthday. Initially, I didn’t want to go. I don’t like to drive to LA. I live in the OC and I prefer to stay local. But I hadn’t seen my two friends in a while and I really enjoy their company.

I’m glad that I went.

My roommate was raised a Christian. He still is. I’m not sure what’s up with his wife.


When I was in college, my relationship with God was set aside so that I didn’t have to feel accountable to Him. This way, as I ignored Him, I felt that I was free to do as I wished. And quite often, I did.

I have returned to God. My relationship isn’t strong, as I would like it to be. But we are much closer. And some, like my roommate from college and his wife, know that I try harder now to reflect the love of my God more than the nature of my flesh.

My roommate’s language is coarse, I don’t know why. I don’t judge. And sometimes his wife’s displeasure in a candidate for the Presidential election this year is vitriolic and full of hatred. However, they were respectful of my space and of my walk and would often apologize for dropping an f’ bomb or something abrasive at times. In fact, his wife was incredibly respectful and I could tell she really attempted to be courteous.

It was interesting because my roommate knew me well in college for the person I really was. I could see that he noticed quite a change from that kid so many years ago to the person whom God has changed today.

I failed at times to reflect my God well Saturday evening. I mentioned the looks of pretty women here and there. We proudly joked about the trouble we, or rather, I used to cause at school. But overall, I made an effort to share with them, through my actions, that I have left a lot of “Rick” behind so that I could walk forward with God. And for the most part, I think they could see that.

I didn’t have to get “preachy” with my friends to justify my behavior. I could enjoy their company and love them for who they are. But more than anything, I could do my best, through God’s grace and love, to reflect Him by working a little harder to allow my mouth express the changes God has made upon my heart.

Again, I’m glad that I went Saturday. I have much love for those two. But I’m also glad to have seen God working in me…not so much so that I could be a witness to my friends. But more so that I could personally witness the love that God has for me as He creates in me a new heart transformed by His grace.

Thank you, God.