What Content Fills Your Lips?

Take my voice and let me sing
Always only for my King
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee

Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated 1874
By: Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879)

Listen to this modern version of this classic hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

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Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we continue our journey through this classic text and hymn, think about what it will mean to sincerely offer each part of your life and your entire life to God. It requires diligence and intentionality. Thanks for joining us in this grand pursuit. Let’s think about this.

What I Don’t Say

In a similar way to the first stanza, the writer seems to be asking God to leave his lips alone. But that is only if you take this phrase as a fragment and separate it from the full thought which includes the next phrase. That creates a very different idea by describing that which the writer wants his lips to be filled.

Let’s take a slightly different angle on it for this first part though. What if we think about it more in terms of what our lips do not say, or should not say. For the context on the scripture below we might call it bad fruit.

See, our lips will probably be used to say some things. We have to make choices as to what those things will be, and what they will not be. It we are asking God to leave our lips alone, we are asking Him effectively not to use them for His purposes. That would be a tragedy since we made them, but sadly that is often how we use them: for our own purposes and not for God’s.

What this means is that what I do not say is often the very thing I should be saying: the praises of God.

So what is true of you? By the way you use your lips every day are you effectively asking God to leave your lips alone so you can use them however you please? Or will you commit your lips to His purposes, way and messages? It is an important distinction.

Take my lips and let them be

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Hebrews 13:15 ESV

Not only should we use our singing voice for God’s glory but our speaking voice as well. We must commit to honor God with not only every note we sing but every word we speak. We should continually offer Him the sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. We use our lips for other purposes often, so learn to be quick to ask His forgiveness.

Will you commit to use your lips only to honor God?

RESONATE!

Take a few moments and think about the words your lips have spoken. Likely you have not always said what God desired. Ask for His forgiveness. Receive His forgiveness and then commit your lips to the ways of God. Pray this simple prayer, “God, help me to use my lips only to honor You.“

What I Do Say

The thought is completed with this next phrase and we realize clearly what we are committing to do. We want our lips to be filled with God’s messages. We are effectively saying that we want the the word bubble to be filled with His words.

If we yield our lips to that extent, it leaves little to no room for us to mix our message with His. We do not want an empty word bubble. We want it to be filled with the things God wants to declare through us. He only wants us restrained to the extent we might speak other messages, but He wants His known.

We want this to be true no matter who our hearers happen to be. Not just around others who think like us, but those who do not as well. We must simply be careful to allow who we say and how we say it to reflect the love our God has first shown us. That love which motivates to offer our lips in the first place.

Filled with messages from Thee

I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. Psalm 40:9 ESV

Hopefully we are all growing in our ability to fill our lips with His messages so we too can make such a bold statement. May the use of our lips extend beyond the great congregation and find expression in the wider world as we make known the glad news of deliverance.

Think about it. Doing this would not only bring God glory, but keep us out of a lot of trouble. Will you commit to fill your lips with His messages?

RESONATE!
Maybe you do not think you can speak His messages, but God can help you, if you are willing. Maybe your lips have been sluggish to say what God has prompted you to say. You can begin to change that today. Pray simply, “Lord, fill my lips with Your messages.” Then keep praying and watch Him answer.

Lord I commit my lips again today to speak Your messages. Teach me how to declare the deliverance You have made available. Take my lips. In Jesus name. Amen.

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Image Attribution
Take my lips and let them be – https://pixabay.com/photos/mouth-man-smile-pros-and-cons-2160197/
Filled with messages from Thee – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/logos-brain-smart-thought-profile-990390/