These are 24 simple words, but they offer an opportunity for profound self-examination.
"May the words of my mouth and the
meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."
Psalm 19:14
Are the words of our mouths pleasing to God? I can think of 4 ways of looking at that.
1. The words we choose to use regularly. "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips." Colossians 3:8
2. What we choose to talk about. "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29
3. Are our words honest? "Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices." Colossians 3:9 "The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful." Proverbs 12:22
4. How we speak our words. We all know that sometimes our words themselves may be fine, but the tone we use conveys anything from disrespect to contempt.
What about the meditation of our hearts? Here are 3 things to consider.
1. What are we thinking about? "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." Philippians 4:8
2. Are we worrying? Jesus asked, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Matthew 6:27
3. These are more examples of acceptable thoughts. In my NIV translation, Psalms records 12 times the word 'meditate' is used. The writers of the psalms meditate on God's unfailing love (Ps. 48:9), His works (77:12, 143:5 and 145:5), His precepts (119:15 and 119:78), His decrees (119:23 and 119:48), His wonders (119:27), His law (119:97), His statutes (119:99), His promises (119:148).
"May the words of my mouth and the
meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."
Psalm 19:14
This should be our prayer each day, and our guideline for whether we should be saying or even thinking any given thing.
May the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing to Him today.
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