Our Thoughts and Words…

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer" (Psalm 19:14).  This is a well-known verse, and it is usually said as a prayer before a preacher begins his sermon. One day, suddenly, the truth of this verse struck me!  In this verse the Holy Spirit is not referring to the text (words) and content (thoughts) of the sermon but to every thought that crosses our mind and every word that crosses the lips!  When you read the same verse in the right context, we can understand what the Holy Spirit is trying to communicate to us!  

In this Psalm 19, David talks about the law of the Lord from verses 7-11.  He says, "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether."  In the previous verse, David reflected on the warnings found in the Word of God and in the great reward found in obeying God's Word. This made him reflect on the times and ways he had ignored the warnings and not obeyed the Word.  David knew he could fall again if left to himself.  So David prayed, saying that the Lord should keep him from presumptuous sins so that they will not have dominion over him. In this context, David says that not only his words but every thought should be acceptable in the sight of God!  All sin starts first as a thought and then results in action!  David closed this glorious Psalm with a humble surrender of his heart and lips to God. He knew that real godliness was not a matter of what a man did or preached alone but also of what he said and thought in his heart.  I believe this has to be the prayer of every believer as we get out of bed each morning!

​​My friend, more than anything David looked to the Lord for strength to practice holiness in thought and words! As Paul says in 2 Cor 10:5, "Let us bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…"

---