Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous!
Praise befits the upright.  – Psalm 33.1

This Psalm is such a beautiful picture of what worship in Spirit and truth looks like.  When the righteous man shouts for joy and sings the praises of his Redeemer, it is a glorious thing to behold.  Praise befits the upright!  It is fitting for the redeemed to sing the praises of the Redeemer.  It is right.  It is becoming of the upright to praise Him.  When I read this verse, my mom’s voice rings in my ear.  She was always saying, “that’s not becoming of a young man,” or “that shirt is not very becoming.”  In the same way, it is not becoming of a believer when they speak curses.  And it is certainly not becoming of a believer to praise God on Sunday and then curse people made in His image throughout the week.

But no human being can tame the tongue.
It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With it we bless our Lord and Father,
and with it we curse people
who are made in the likeness of God.
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.
My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
– James 3.8-10

It ought to be just as odd to hear a Christian curse as to hear a cat crow !  When David prayed for forgiveness and repented of his sin, he recognized that his repentance included his mouth.  “Then I will teach transgressors your ways…O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise” (Ps. 51).  May our repentance be evidenced by our lips.

Which comes out of your mouth more? Blessing or cursing? #TestURself #OughtNotToBe #James3