I Will Watch My Ways Series

INTRO.- I will watch my ways. Why would we ever want to watch our ways in life? One of the things my dad used to say to me was, “Pay attention to what you’re doing.”

It pays to pay attention to whatever you are doing and especially, when you are driving an automobile. We have multitudes of crazy drivers around here that do not stop, do not yield the right of way when they are suppose to, and do not use their turn signals. Failing to do these things will cause a wreck. And to me, it’s a matter of not paying attention to your driving habits.

ILL.- In July of 2009 my friend, Mike Rathbone, who preached at the First Christian Church of Murfeesboro, AR, passed away suddenly with a heart attack. He was 63 years old. Ron Hoyer from Hardy, AR, called and wanted to attended his funeral which was on Thursday, July 23rd. I planned to go so Ron met me here in Jonesboro and we went to the funeral. On the way home that afternoon we were traveling I 67 North out of Little Rock and was suddenly passed by a woman who had her left hand in the air and I couldn’t believe what I saw. I said to Ron, “Is she doing what I think she’s doing?” (I wasn’t sure if my eyes were playing tricks on me or what). He said, “She sure is.” SHE WAS TEXTING WHILE DRIVING AND PASSING US! That woman didn’t wreck her car, at least, not at that time, but I was shocked to think that she would be texting while driving.

It pays to pay attention while you’re driving. Here are some facts about texting, etc. while driving.

FACT #1 Five seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting. When traveling at 55 mph, that's enough time to cover the length of a football field. FACT #2 A texting driver is 23 times more likely to get into a crash than a non-texting driver.

It also pays to pay attention to everything we do in life: marriage, family, work, relationships, etc.

ILL.- I remember when I first went to Iowa to preach. One of the church board members greeted me by shaking hands with no fingers on his right hand. What happened? He was involved in an accident with a corn picker, I was told, and lost those four fingers. It pays to pay attention to your work, especially, when you’re doing something that could be dangerous.

It pays to pay attention. When it comes to all of life, we must pay attention to what we are doing.

ILL.- A little boy saw his father use a square to see if a board he was planing was straight. “Why are you so careful, Daddy?” asked the boy. “We can’t guess in carpenter work,” his dad said. “You have to be just right. People guess at too many things. God does not like that way of living.”

“I guess there are no squares for living by,” said the boy. “Yes, there are squares to live by, and you will find them in the Bible. Test all that you do by them, and you go straight in life, my boy.”

How can we watch our lives to make sure we do right, live right and please the Lord? We go by the Word of God!

Psalm 119:11 “Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.”

Psalm 119:9 “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.”

PROP.- The Psalmist gives us a list of what we are to watch over in this life.

1- I will watch my mouth

2- I will watch my days

3- I will watch my hope

I. I WILL WATCH MY MOUTH

1 I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence.”

ILL.- Two elderly women boarded a jet plane. On the plane, one said to the other, “Do you know this plane travels faster than sound?” The other was quite alarmed about this and when they were settled she said to the captain: “I beg your pardon, sir, but does this plane travel faster than sound?”

Proudly he said, “Yes, ma’am, we fly faster than sound.” “Well,” replied the lady, “please slow it down a little, for my friend and I want to talk.” Yes, most people want to talk but not always the way they should.

Psalm 5:9 “Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit.”