Set a Guard Over My Mouth | Psalm 141:1-4

This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 141 creates space to pray and seek God’s help, especially regarding our words.

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Ever wish you could hit rewind and take back something you said? Maybe it was a harsh tone, biting sarcasm, or a juicy piece of gossip. It’s easy to let words slip out—and once they do, it’s just as easy to wish we could take them back.

The truth is, those words that slip out might feel satisfying in the moment, but they often leave a bitter taste behind. As this Psalmist puts it, they’re like delicacies—tempting but not truly good or nourishing.

And in today’s divisive world, our words are more important than ever. How can we, as followers of Jesus, be people who use our words to extend God’s love and peace, even when we don’t agree with something?

That’s why I’ve prayed this Psalm for years. I want to be someone who uses her words well—someone whose words are trustworthy, kind, and full of love.

So I pray, “Lord, set a guard over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.”

And God is faithful. He gives those gentle nudges to stop talking or to tread more carefully.

Heeding his nudge is still up to me, though, as it always is.

This meditation offers space to ask God for His help and protection as we seek to be people who speak words filled with love.

You can follow along with a FREE printed guide for this meditation and the entire Praying with the Psalms series here.

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The entire meditation text is as follows:

Psalm 141:1-4, NIV

1 I call to you, Lord, come quickly to me;

hear me when I call to you.

2 May my prayer be set before you like incense;

may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

3 Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;

keep watch over the door of my lips.

4 Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil

so that I take part in wicked deeds

along with those who are evildoers;

do not let me eat their delicacies.

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