Help keep me from doing and saying foolish things

Lord, I ask you today to help keep me from doing and saying foolish things. Sometimes I do things on impulse and when I do I usually regret having done them.

Please help me learn that it is usually better to not say anything at all, and at the minimum I should learn to hold my tongue (or my fingers when typing) for some time in order to take the time to sit back and reevaluate everything before I say or do anything.

Please help me to do more listening than talking.

Proverbs 21:23 "Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles." (NKJV)

fool·ish (fōō'lĭsh) adj. 1. Lacking or exhibiting a lack of good sense or judgment; silly: foolish remarks 2. Resulting from stupidity or misinformation; unwise: a foolish decision. 3. Arousing laughter; absurd or ridiculous: a foolish grin. 4. Immoderate or stubborn; unreasonable: foolish pride; foolish love. 5. Embarrassed; abashed: I feel foolish telling you this 6. Insignificant; trivial: spent all their money on foolish little knickknacks

stu·pid (stōō'pĭd, styōō'-) adj. 1. Slow to learn or understand; obtuse. 2. Tending to make poor decisions or careless mistakes. 3. Marked by a lack of intelligence or care; foolish or careless: a stupid mistake. 4. Dazed, stunned, or stupefied. 5. Pointless; worthless: a stupid job. n. A stupid or foolish person. [Latin stupidus, from stupēre, to be stunned.] American Heritage Dictionary

I think the first and second definitions of “foolish” fit me as well as the second (and probably also the first and third) definition of “stupid” and seem to have defined my life lately. In the infamous words of Forrest Gump: "stupid is, as stupid does".

Proverbs has several chapters about the stupidity of pursuing man's wisdom over God's. Any time I turn to my own understanding and neglect to seek God, I get in trouble. I want to seek Your wisdom but then I keep doing and saying things where I decide to pursue my own wisdom in situations.

So many times lately I have silently told myself "shut up, stupid" (and oh, how many times I have ignored myself!!). I want to choose the path of wisdom, not stupidity. Please help guide me in this path.

Remembering an old comedy sketch. . .I think it was a Bob Newhart episode - or maybe it was Bob Newhart on Saturday Night Live, maybe it was someone else. . .I really can’t remember, but if I recall the episode, a person came in for counseling where there was a 2 minute consultation for $5 and after that it was free. He heard the problem without interrupting. Since he didn’t want to continue the counseling session after the 2 minutes (because he wouldn't get paid for it), he gave his professional response which was “STOP THAT”. Lord, please remind me to “STOP THAT”! Edit: In rethinking this, I think the sage advice he gave was "DON'T DO THAT!".

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” I stand ready for reproof and correction. . .

Give me Your mercy, I pray, for the times when I have foolishly disregarded Your guidance.

Please grant me patience, love and understanding. I desire to know and live according to the will of God as revealed in the Scripture, which can be summarized best as “be holy for I am Holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16).

I am trying to immerse myself in the written Word of God, saturating my mind with it. I am praying that the Holy Spirit will transform me through the renewing of my mind, so that the result is what is good, acceptable and perfect - the will of God. Please help guide me.

Please also help me get some sleep. It has been so illusive lately. An hour or so and I wake up. I have so many thoughts going through my head that I can't get any rest. Thank you, though, for the extra time it has provided for prayer.

Thank you also for giving me peace about some things that have been going on in my life.