Fasting from speech

One of the disciplines in the book Celebration of Disciplines by Richard J. Foster is Solitude.  Practicing solitude often involves not speaking to others.  In fact, the author suggests going without talking for an entire day.  I try that on occasion, just to tame my tongue which really needs a padlock some days.  Yesterday I fasted from most speech while I was at work....smiling, nodding and talking only when absolutely necessary.
OH the words I wanted to say!!!  If I could make a three point sermon from this experiment, I would confess that I either complain, explain or blame most of the time, or at least that is what I missed the most.  I want to complain about the weather, my aches, inconveniences, customers, co-workers, hunger, computers and on and on and on ad nauseam.  When I am not complaining, I am trying to explain myself, my motives, my ideas, how that last mistake wasn't my fault!  Or I feel the need to explain why I said something that obviously wasn't very nice and upset a co-worker.  Ugh.  The nastiest words I wanted to use was to point out the faults of others, complain about what they did and generally make them look bad...to make me look good?  How ironic!
I can also be very funny and witty and elicit a lot of laughter at work.  That is fun, but also needs to be reigned in at times.
I journaled about my experience on my lunch hour.  I hadn't gone more than four hours and I was completely disgusted with the words I never said!

Soooo, I started confessing and praying and asking the Lord to help me, because I cannot change this in my own power!  I want my words to edify, encourage, build up others and glorify Jesus...
If out of the heart the mouth speaks, Lord, change my heart!  Quickly!
Amen.