So the following was on my door when I moved to The Bronx. Not sure why it was there, but very, very appropriate and needed especially in regards to my lonely and trying relationship with my two current roommates. I would like to say 2010 has been a good year, but it's honestly been pretty awful for myself, close friends, and family. The following was written by Stormie Omartian and is adapted from The Power of a Praying Parent.
I pray that I will choose to use speech that glorifies You. Fill my heart with Your Spirit and Your truth so that what overflows from my mouth will be words of life and not death. Put a monitor over my mouth so that every temptation to use profane, negative, cruel, hurtful, uncaring, unloving, or compassionless language would pierce my spirit and make me feel uncomfortable. I pray that obscene or foul language be so foreign to me that if words like that ever do find their way through my lips they will be like gravel in my mouth, and I will be repulsed by them. Help me to hear myself so that words don't come out carelessly or thoughtlessly.
Keep me from being snared by the words of my mouth. You've promised that "whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles." (Proverbs 21:23) Help me to put a guard over my mouth and keep far away from adversity. Your Word says that "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." (Proverbs 18:21) May I speak life and not death. May I be quick to listen and slow to speak so that my speech will always be seasoned with grace and mercy. Equip me to know how, what, and when to speak to anyone in any situation. Enable me to always speak words of hope, health, encouragement, and life, and to resolve that my mouth will not sin.
