The Words of My Mouth & The Meditation of My Heart
“O let the words I speak
Be pleasing in your sight;
And may my inmost thoughts
Be in your judgement right.
O Lord you are a rock to me;
You have redeemed and set me free.”
These are the words of Psalm 19 (v. 14) that we sang together yesterday. I absolutely love the fact that Jake is leading us in singing the psalms. Besides being a direct instruction from the Apostle Paul (Eph 5:19, Col 3:16), it helps us to meditate and consider the Psalms in ways that maybe we haven’t before. Music helps us to process the words slowly and contemplatively. In doing so, the Holy Spirit uses the Word of God in our lives to sanctify us, convict us, encourage us, and speak to us.
Yesterday, these words stuck with me long after our worship gathering had ended. “Let the words I speak be pleasing in your sight… may my inmost thoughts be in your judgement right…” I’ve been considering my thoughts and my words as a result – Do I take every thought captive? Do I speak in edifying ways? How is my thought-life and my speech different when I am not among my brothers and sisters in the Lord? For me, I am convicted. I freely confess that very often I take off my “pastor hat” and put on my “regular-life hat.” This is to my shame. I desire that my thoughts and my speech be consistently God-glorifying and Christ-exalting. Nevertheless, I tend to allow myself to be influenced by the godless world around me. Vanity of vanity! All is vanity!
Yet, the last line gives me hope: “O Lord you are a rock to me; You have redeemed and set me free!” I am set free. I am set free from the condemnation of the law. I am set free from the bondage of sin. I am set free from the burden of my guilt. Yes, I fail; But, I am redeemed! The law of God has been written upon my heart and I long to live for the glory of King Jesus. He knows my most inner thoughts! He hears my every word. Lord, conform the hearts of your people to think and speak Christ! When frustration and stress and anxiety and doubt encroach upon my mind, Lord, help me to take them captive. When my speech is bitter or snarky or unbefitting, Lord, silence me! Beloved, the heart of every Christian is to grow in holiness (this is part of the New Covenant). But, never forget that we are changed from one degree of glory to another by looking at Christ (2 Cor 3:18). We so often focus on change rather than sanctification. What I mean is, we often want to change for the sake of the thing we want to become – but, this is actually idolatry. We aren’t looking and longing for Christ. Sanctification comes by beholding Jesus, and being conformed to HIS image. I want to become LIKE JESUS. As the old saying goes, “I want to be so full of Christ that if a mosquito bit me, it would fly away singing ‘There’s power in the blood!’”
Beloved, as we sing the Psalms, think about what we are doing – we are collectively praising God by singing his Word. These songs are unlike any other, for God is the divine author. The Holy Spirit specifically uses the Word of God to accomplish his purposes. And for me, that means reminding me this week that God knows my inner most thoughts and hears every word. But, as the psalm says, I am redeemed and set free! I am set free, not to glory in my sin and failure. No, I am set free to behold Christ and to pursue him without guilt or condemnation. There’s only one word I can speak on that: Hallelujah!
Have a blessed week!
Matthew
Be pleasing in your sight;
And may my inmost thoughts
Be in your judgement right.
O Lord you are a rock to me;
You have redeemed and set me free.”
These are the words of Psalm 19 (v. 14) that we sang together yesterday. I absolutely love the fact that Jake is leading us in singing the psalms. Besides being a direct instruction from the Apostle Paul (Eph 5:19, Col 3:16), it helps us to meditate and consider the Psalms in ways that maybe we haven’t before. Music helps us to process the words slowly and contemplatively. In doing so, the Holy Spirit uses the Word of God in our lives to sanctify us, convict us, encourage us, and speak to us.
Yesterday, these words stuck with me long after our worship gathering had ended. “Let the words I speak be pleasing in your sight… may my inmost thoughts be in your judgement right…” I’ve been considering my thoughts and my words as a result – Do I take every thought captive? Do I speak in edifying ways? How is my thought-life and my speech different when I am not among my brothers and sisters in the Lord? For me, I am convicted. I freely confess that very often I take off my “pastor hat” and put on my “regular-life hat.” This is to my shame. I desire that my thoughts and my speech be consistently God-glorifying and Christ-exalting. Nevertheless, I tend to allow myself to be influenced by the godless world around me. Vanity of vanity! All is vanity!
Yet, the last line gives me hope: “O Lord you are a rock to me; You have redeemed and set me free!” I am set free. I am set free from the condemnation of the law. I am set free from the bondage of sin. I am set free from the burden of my guilt. Yes, I fail; But, I am redeemed! The law of God has been written upon my heart and I long to live for the glory of King Jesus. He knows my most inner thoughts! He hears my every word. Lord, conform the hearts of your people to think and speak Christ! When frustration and stress and anxiety and doubt encroach upon my mind, Lord, help me to take them captive. When my speech is bitter or snarky or unbefitting, Lord, silence me! Beloved, the heart of every Christian is to grow in holiness (this is part of the New Covenant). But, never forget that we are changed from one degree of glory to another by looking at Christ (2 Cor 3:18). We so often focus on change rather than sanctification. What I mean is, we often want to change for the sake of the thing we want to become – but, this is actually idolatry. We aren’t looking and longing for Christ. Sanctification comes by beholding Jesus, and being conformed to HIS image. I want to become LIKE JESUS. As the old saying goes, “I want to be so full of Christ that if a mosquito bit me, it would fly away singing ‘There’s power in the blood!’”
Beloved, as we sing the Psalms, think about what we are doing – we are collectively praising God by singing his Word. These songs are unlike any other, for God is the divine author. The Holy Spirit specifically uses the Word of God to accomplish his purposes. And for me, that means reminding me this week that God knows my inner most thoughts and hears every word. But, as the psalm says, I am redeemed and set free! I am set free, not to glory in my sin and failure. No, I am set free to behold Christ and to pursue him without guilt or condemnation. There’s only one word I can speak on that: Hallelujah!
Have a blessed week!
Matthew
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One of my favorite scriptures.