PUT YOUR HANDS OVER YOUR MOUTH

NKJV, Proverbs 30: 32-33 – “If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth. 33) Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife”.

Whenever we do something wrong or behave in an inappropriate manner, and we are called to order, there is the high tendency for us to defend ourselves with excuses or lies. Today, our Heavenly Father Wants to Admonish us. If you foolishly exalt yourself, think, or act in an evil manner and you are caught, put your hand over your mouth. Don’t defend yourself. If you do not have  anything good to say anything that comes into your head – learn to keep your mouth shut. Words are powerful (Prov 18:  21), so The  Bible Says when you have a wrong thought put your hand over your mouth (Prov 30; 32) because you may say wrong words. Satan comes to put bad thought in your head, hoping that you will say it & stop God’s Good Plan for you. (Prov 30: 32)

I remember back in those days; I would go wrong and be lambasted seriously. In such settings, I would spontaneously give excuses, formulate lies, or try to justify myself rather than suffer shame. Obviously, that approach never helped, as I foolishly exalted myself in my ill motives. Today, many of us are not teachable and cannot be rebuked because, in our pride, we will speak at length to defend our evil ways. Just as the rapid shaking and stirring of whole milk forms butter, and the punching of nose produces blood, so does defending your wrong doings and foolish pride stir up more anger in those you have offended, leading to strife and conflict. If someone offends you and you are even willing to forgive that person but that person goes ahead to justify his/her actions and probably insults you, what will your reaction be?

An attempt to cover up, defend, or justify an evil done so you secure your pride, only results in the dismissal of Mercy and the activation of judgement and vengeance. Some of us even treat God in such manner sometimes. When a person comes to the point where he/she justifies as right and acceptable, what God has Declared as an abomination, even the Mercy of God is denied him/her. Instead, the wrath and judgement of God awaits such a as person. Watch what you think because what you think will eventually come out from your mouth

Defending your actions when they are the best you could do, is not wrong. But to quickly rise to justify yourself when you have been on the wrong path, is a dangerous act. This caution is important to us all because it is easy to develop that habit of trying to defend even our wrong doings. Put your hands over your mouth, keep quiet and take your rebuke in good fate. By that, anger will be quenched, and Mercy will be obtained. Think about this. Keep your opinions to yourself; Mind your own business ie. Keep your mouth shut.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, please Forgive me for the times my pride caused me to cover up my wrong doings. I repent and ask for Grace to be humble and heed to rebuke anytime I go wrong. May I never lose your Mercies and Grace, for these have brought me this far. Help me LORD,

in Jesus’ Name, Amen.