Powerful Self-Talk From the PsalmsSample

The Intent of My Heart

Intentions matter. They are the forces that guide our choices and our actions.

Consider the world’s deadliest nuclear weapon—Russia’s Tsar Bomba. During a test explosion, it created a mushroom cloud 37 miles tall. Buildings a hundred miles away from the blast site were damaged or destroyed. Note—none of that happened by accident. The world’s most potent human-made explosion was created with intention.

But consider this: Our mouths can be weapons of mass destruction, too. This is far from hyperbole. Your mouth is capable of creating death, devastation, grief, and isolation.

Before anyone pushes the button to launch a nuclear bomb, there are protocols, launch codes, and security checks. Oddly, the devastation our mouths create is done with little or no forethought at all. That’s precisely why we must be concerned about our intentions.

Which leads me to a strategic question. Do you begin the day with the thought, I intend to keep my mouth under control today? One guy quipped, “I tried keeping my mouth shut once. Worst two minutes of my life.”

My guess is that if you know and love Jesus, you don’t deliberately trash others with your words. Yet it happens. And we create even worse damage by believing our broken self-talk. We say things like, “Sure, I have trouble shooting off my mouth, but that’s just how I am.”

What we’re (dishonestly) saying is, “It’s not really on me. Blame it on my DNA. Or my dysfunctional family history. Or my hideous job. Or my dog.” But biblically speaking, mouth control is the ultimate self-control.

In Psalm 17:3, David said, “My intent is that my mouth will not offend” (NASB). He is essentially saying, “I need a battle plan before I get near the battle. I have a goal, a standard for my speech. I know I’m fallible, and sinful speech comes easily, naturally. Therefore, my intent is that my mouth will not offend. This is my standard of conduct.”

I’ve seen this verse thrive in my life. I know it works. Just as I know how miserably I fail when I don’t intend to intend:

• A juicy bit of gossip is being shared, and I have something I’m tempted to add…
• A friend is being critical of someone, and I’m tempted to chime in…
• I’m angry and feel like blasting the fury of my wrath…

At that moment, I/we need David’s self-talk: “My intent is that my mouth will not offend.”

Now, an intention, of course, is not the whole thing. There must be more. But it’s an essential first step. Now it’s time to follow through.

Imagine if you made the effort to memorize this verse. Imagine if you reached for it every time you felt your heart rate spiking when somebody verbally slammed you. What if you quoted this verse to yourself? What if you said it as often as the temptation to lash out came over you? I promise you that kind of self-talk really will make a difference.

Pray It

O Lord, You hear my every word before it is even spoken. David’s testimony is true: “Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, Lord, You know it all” (Psalm 139:4 NASB). You know how I struggle with this. You know the crummy self-talk I have wallowed in up to this point. Would you help me—starting now—to think right, speak right, and love right? I ask in Christ’s name. Amen.