Psalm 19:4

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

I wonder how many words we speak during the course of a day, both in our heads and out loud. One study I read estimated men speak several thousand words, while women speak over 10,000 words a day. However you slice it, we speak and think a lot of words throughout the day.

Now take the amount of words you speak and think about how many of them are directed toward God, in one way or another. How many are prayers? How many words of thanks or praise? How many of those words would you like to have back?

How about a prayer to ask God’s blessing on all your words? It comes from Psalm 19:14. I’ve heard this spoken by pastors before they preach their sermon. I think it’s the perfect prayer for the beginning of your day.

David wrote this psalm and as he concluded it, his request was simple. He prayed all his words and thoughts would be pleasing to God. And guess what? They are and they can be for you, too.

First, your words and thoughts are pleasing to God, not because they are all perfect or directed to him, but because they are sanctified by Jesus. Jesus’ death covers all our words and thoughts so they are all acceptable and forgiven by God. Jesus’ sacrifice covers all the words you’ll think or speak today. Think about that. Jesus forgives the bad words and thoughts. He purifies the less than holy ones. He inspires the words and thoughts of thanks and praise we direct to God. Your words and thoughts are pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.

Doesn’t that motivate you to want to speak and think more in line with your Savior’s words and thoughts? Doesn’t that urge you to speak and think in ways in line with God’s will and Word? Doesn’t that urge you to speak and think in ways that show love to your neighbor and give glory to God?

It sure does. We have new desires for how to use our thoughts and words. They are simply this:

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.