TRUE! To find out why…read on…
Psalm 19:14 (NKJV) Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
This verse takes me back to Sunday mornings sitting on a church pew next to my parents. I can still hear those words just as clearly now as I did some 40 years ago. You see, I grew up in church and my family spent most of the day Sunday and Wednesday evenings at church services or serving in some capacity. I can remember hearing the Pastor pray these words all the time just before he began his sermon. It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized they had come from Psalm 19.
- Are the words of my mouth acceptable/pleasing to God?
- Does the contents of my heart show evidence that I am a Christ-follower?
In the gospel of Luke (6:45) we are reminded that “the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
So what is my heart full of? I would like to think that my words and actions are a reflection of God’s love to those around me 100% of the time…but that wouldn’t be true. The truth is, sometimes the words that come rolling out of my mouth are harsh and come from a pretty angry heart. I am so thankful for God’s mercy and grace. He is so patient with me.
This week, I challenge you to pray this verse each morning as a prayer of surrender. Humbly surrender your words and thoughts to Him. Determine that God’s love will guide what you say and how you say it.
Related scripture: Proverbs 4:23, Psalm 139:23 – 24
The words “quick to answer” leapt off the page as I read Proverbs 29. Other translations use “speaks in haste” and “speak too quickly.” I had to immediately think about how many times I have allowed something to roll off my tongue before even thinking. Someone says something and an angry spark prompts my tongue to speak a snide response before my brain can even process what’s transpiring. I know I have…the split second the words are out of my mouth, my brain engages and I realize their impact…I may have just marred someone I care about because I failed to think before I spoke. UGH! The struggle is real.