When Your Mouth Runs Faster Than Your Mind

Well now, pull up a rocker and sit a spell. I’ve got the sweet tea poured, and the breeze is ‘a-doin’ its best to keep the flies off the porch though that one persistent gnat is ‘a-fightin’ for its life like a holy-roller at a potluck. Alright, how about let’s go ahead and settle in and let the peace of God put His calm on your spirit and the joy of the Lord lift your heart right on up today?

Bless Peter’s heart, Mark 9 shows us he had a gift for ‘a-speakin’ first and ‘a-thinkin’ later. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain, and suddenly Jesus is ’a- shinin’ brighter than a porch light in July. Moses and Elijah show up, too, those two heroes of the faith, just ‘a-chattin’ with Jesus like it’s a reunion at the Cracker Barrel.

And, mercy me, what does Peter do? Why, he blurts out the first thing that pops into his head. “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s build y’all some shelters!” Mark adds, “Peter said that it was good for them to be there, too.” That’s Bible-speak for: Peter panicked and his mouth took off ‘a-runnin’ like a hound dog ‘a-chasin’ a squirrel.

Haven’t we all been there? That moment when the words leave your lips, and you wish you could lasso ‘em right back like a crazy, runaway goat. Maybe it sounded good in your head, but once it hit the open air, it flopped harder than a possum ‘a-playin’ dead.

Peter wasn’t  ‘a-tryin’ to be foolish. He was scared slap silly and confused as a possum ‘a-wakin’ up in daylight. And that’s when our mouths get us in trouble every time ’cause those weak‑as‑dishwater thoughts leap out faster than a frog ‘a-hittin’ the lily pad.

Scripture reminds us there’s “a time to be quiet and a time to speak.” But mercy, some days my mouth doesn’t know what time it is. That’s why James tells us to ask God for wisdom (James 1:5) ‘cause He gives it generously, even to folks whose tongues run wild like chickens after a fox has shown up.

Maybe today’s a good day to slow down, breathe deep, and ask the Lord to help us speak life, not noise. To pause long enough to ask, “Lord, is this You, or just me ‘a-panickin’ again?”

Father, give me discernment. Help me recognize Your voice above all the noise. Teach me when to speak and when to hush. Fill me with wisdom so my words honor You and bless others. Guide my thoughts before they tumble out of my mouth. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

Land sakes, it’s high time we practiced a little good, old‑fashioned self‑control settlin’ our minds on lettin’ God’s sweetest blessin’s soak into our day. And while we’re at it, let’s make sure our mouths stay calmer than a barn cat ‘a-nappin’ in a sunbeam, even when our nerves are ‘a-itchin’ to go ‘a-tearin’ off like an ‘ole hound dog after a rabbit.

With joy,

Gwen