There are times when I am reading through the Bible and a particular passage seems to reach out and smack me. Has this ever happened to you? It’s rather disconcerting and refreshing all at the same time.
I strive to spend some time daily in the book of Psalms. As I have grown older (and hopefully, grown more mature), I have found that if Scripture consisted of nothing more than the Psalms, I could be content with that. I’m not downplaying the rest of God’s Word. It’s all inspired, and it’s all useful. And I love many, many different parts of it.
It’s just that I have found, especially recently, that the book of Psalms seems to contain most of what I seem to need at this season of my life. It gives me the encouragement I need, from passage such as Psalm 106, or Psalm 95. I receive reminders of God’s love for me in passages like Psalm 100. There are passages like Psalm 23, which comforts me and reassures me of God’s presence.
The Psalms give me the challenges that I need to grow, they convict me in areas that I fall short, and they strengthen my resolve to stay as closely connected to God as I can.
Not too long ago, I came across this passage in my reading of the Psalms. I’d encourage you to go read the whole chapter, but look especially at Psalm 19:14.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.
What an incredible idea to keep before myself daily!
In the Old Testament, the Israelites prayed often that their sacrifices would be acceptable to God. This Psalm uses similar language, and this verse uses a term that is often associated with God’s acceptance of a properly offered, literal sacrifice. But here, David uses it, referring not to bulls and lambs, but to “lip and life” sacrifices.
This needs to be something I pray daily, and that I strive for daily. That my life, the things that I do, and the things that I say, are acceptable before God.
How do I accomplish this? That’s a good question. It depends upon the circumstance. One afternoon late last month, I had a conversation with someone I ran into in town. We talked about coffee, and I stated my opinions on the matter. I walked out the door and then stopped. Did I sound pretentious and cocky in that conversation? In my own mind I thought so.
So, I turned around and went back in and apologized. The lady assured me I hadn’t come across that way, but I felt like I had, so I needed to let her know that was not my intention. An inner voice was telling me that it really wasn’t that big of a deal, and it might not have been to that lady. But it was to me, and I suspect it was to God (I’m pretty sure that was a moment of Holy Spirit conviction).
Maybe my first words weren’t acceptable in God’s sight; but my second words were closer to that mark.
That’s why this has to be a daily prayer. I want my heart’s intentions, and the words that come out of my mouth, to be as closely aligned with the heart of God as I can make them. And that can only happen though my own daily, focused, intentional effort, and God’s Holy Spirit strengthening and encouraging and convicting me.
I’m pretty sure it’s the same way for you too.
Question: What do you do to make sure your words and thoughts are acceptable to God? You can leave a comment by clicking here.