Do these things promptly…

1. 1. Confess sins.  “Keep short accounts with God,” it’s called.
   2. Write thank you notes. Even two sentences.  Oh, and hand-write them, rather than dictating them for someone to type.  The personal touch is good.
   3. Write notes of appreciation.  “Great song Sunday.”  “I hear excellent things about your class.” My suggestion is you should begin every Monday morning in the office by handwriting five notes.
   4. When inspiration for a sermon or an article comes in the middle of the night, it must be recorded then or, count on it, you’ll never remember it.  Keep a pad by the bedside. Or, do what I do: get up and go into the breakfast room and pull up a chair and write everything out.
   5. When you agree to do a friend  a favor–write a letter of recommendation, call on a patient in a hospital, whatever–do it immediately or you will never do it. As a cartoonist, I try to do the same when asked to illustrate someone’s writing.
   6. Jot down a story, illustration, or thought for a sermon that occurs to you.  If you’re in the car alone, look for an exit and get off the highway so you can write this down.  I’ve sometimes asked my wife to make a note for me as we drove.
   7. Pray for someone when prompted by the Spirit.  When I spot someone who reminds me of a person I knew years ago, I take that as an impulse to pray for them.

And these also–

1. Pray for someone when you are asked to pray.  Stop right then and do it
2. Forgiving offenses.  Whether they ask for it or not.
3. Tell your wife how lovely she looks.  Don’t wait for her to ask if that dress looks all right.  Every time you think of it, tell her she is lovely.
4. Give your kids a hug.  Let them know how special they are to you, with no condition or strings attached.
5. Worship God.  In your spirit, in a few words.  If  possible, say it out loud.

But do not do these things promptly.  Take it slow and reconsider these the next day…

1. Write a letter of reprimand or rebuke.  Someone once published an entire book of letters President Truman wrote but never sent.  Obviously, he must have dropped the letters into some kind of a file.
2. Give someone a negative recommendation.  Think long and hard about this.
3. Get something off your chest.  Speak the truth in love.
4. Buy something expensive without telling your spouse.
5. Cross an invisible line in a relationship.  In many cases, this means speaking or touching in an intimate way.  Not a good idea.

I’ve prayed Psalm 141:3 a few hundred times, and have even developed a variation for it.  Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.

The variations go like this…

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mind; keep watch over the door of my thoughts.

Set a guard, O Lord, over my eyes; keep watch over the door of my sight.

Set a guard, O Lord, over my ears; keep watch over all that I hear.

Set a guard, O Lord, over my home; keep watch over each member of my family.

Set a guard, O Lord, over my church; keep watch over our shepherd and members.

Feel free to add anything below that comes to mind. Thank you.