God is listening

There is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. – Psalm 139:4

When Scottish theologian John Baillie taught at Edinburgh University, he made it a practice to open his course on the doctrine of God with these words: "We must remember, in discussing God, that we cannot talk abut Him without His hearing every word we say. We may be able to talk about others behind their backs, but God is everywhere, yes, even in this classroom. Therefore, in all our discussions we must be aware of His infinite presence, and talk about Him, as it were, before His face."

The knowledge that the Lord is everywhere should have an impact on what we say. David, thinking of the everywhere-present God, declared, "There is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether" (PSALM 139:4).

Lies, gossip, unkind remarks, off-color jokes, angry words, vulgar comments, and disrespectful use of the Lord’s name should never come from our lips. Rather, we should speak only those things that God approves of. Our desire should be the same as David’s passionate prayer in PSALM 19, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer" (v. 14).

Remember, God is listening. – Richard W. De Haan

From others we can hide some things

We’ve thought and said and done;

We cannot hide them from the Lord,

He knows them, every one. – Cooper

READ: PSALM 139

Every word we say on earth is heard in heaven.