Week Forty-Five - Shut the Door

Psalm 141 is a prayer for protection and vindication against the enemy. We don't know the exact situation David is in, but as you read his life story, it could be anywhere because the enemy seemed to be continually dogging his heels.

Here, David cries to the Lord, and his prayer burns as incense. As he lifts his hands to pray, he sets a watch on his mouth, restrains his heart, keeps his words sweet, accepts rebuke from the righteous, and keeps his eyes on the Lord. Making himself accountable, he knows God will deliver. "I will escape" is his conclusion.

How often are we the opposite? When faced with challenges, we scream and wail instead of going to the Lord in prayer. We spout off instead of holding our tongue. We allow our heart to imagine vengeance instead of holding it accountable. We gossip and blame instead of guarding our words. We refuse advice rather than consider our faults. We look for a cohort instead of looking to the Lord.

We cannot claim David's assurance of escape if we are feeding the problem and failing to hold ourselves to accountability and integrity. When we act in the same way as the enemy, we block God's promises. We shut the door to His protection and leave ourselves destitute.

The book of Proverbs is full of warnings on how we are to respond to those who oppose us. Consider these admonitions.

Proverbs 26:4 "Answer not a fool according to his folly."

Proverbs 14:7 "Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge."

Proverbs 29:9 "If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest."

Proverbs 29:11 "A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards."

That last verse, Proverbs 29:11, reminds us most succinctly to keep our mouths shut! To shut the door and wait to speak instead of fanning the flame and throwing fuel into the fire.

Conflicts do come. People have opposing views. But ours is to hold ourselves accountable for our words and reactions.

So, instead of opening the door to every opposing view and every controversial comment, let's take David's principles as our own.

Let's go to our prayer closets with hands lifted high and let the beautiful incense of faith and reliance upon God cause us to set a watch on our words and keep them sweet. Let's restrain our hearts' reactions and listen for wise counsel. Above all, let's keep our eyes upon the Lord, for only He is able to help us escape.