To Pray Each Day
February 23rd, 2006
Heidi Bolz
Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Oh LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
One of my favorite verses! Not just things said, but things that are pondered in my heart need to be pleasing and acceptable to the LORD. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. (I Sam. 16:17) For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him. (Matt. 12:34b,35a) But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart. (Matt. 15:18) I should not be concerned about what others think about what I say. Rather, I should be concerned about the condition of my heart. If I “listen” to what is coming out of my mouth I can evaluate the condition of my heart. My words and heart should be pleasing to Him because the LORD provides solid stability (as my rock) and redemption for wrongdoing (as my redeemer).
Daily, my prayer should be that of David. If my heart is full of those things in Matt 15:19 (evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander) then my words will reflect that. God sees my heart. It can’t be hidden from Him. Why would I want my heart to be anything but pleasing to Him who gave His Son’s life on my behalf and provides me stability as my rock? After what He did for me, I desire to be pleasing to Him in the very depths of my being.
Lord, guard my words today. As you hear them, may you find them acceptable, spoken in love. Create in me a pure heart. As you look at my heart, may you see only things that are acceptable. Make me aware of those things I am pondering in my heart that are not pleasing to you and make me willing to repent of them. Thank you for being my rock and my redeemer. May I NEVER take either for granted!
February 28th, 2006 at 12:40 pm
Heidi, this is also one of my favorite verses. Reminds me again of what we have been learning in James about the connection between our hearts, minds, and mouths. I want all three to be pleasing to God, and I know that it all starts with my heart, as what is there will flow into my mind and out of my mouth. Thanks for your thoughts!