Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
So how are you doing today? This morning is the first really cold morning of the year, and they’re forecasting even colder tomorrow morning. Maybe the seasons are finally changing a little. I hope so because it’s already December. This year slowly and methodically continues to drain us because of the COVID virus, restrictions, and caring for others. It has no doubt been a challenging year. With that said, I go back to my original question. How are you doing today?
I came across this verse and have been repeating it over in my head for days. There’s a reason. Here are some of my thoughts about it.
Your Testimony Depends on Acceptable Words
Our speech is a straight line to our heart. What is in the hearts comes directly out of the mouth (Matthew 15:18). I can’t tell you the number of times I fail in this area. I believe you would be shocked to know. But the reality is that I’m a quick speaker and slow to think. That’s just the opposite of what the Lord tells us in James 1:19, where he tells us to be “slow to speak, quick to listen, and slow to anger.” All three of those admonitions are essential, but being slow to speak affects our influence and testimony around others.
Maybe today, you can begin a new chapter in your “talk life.” Perhaps you can think before you speak. This concept will be hard for some because some feel they are absolutely and always correct and have to interject their thoughts into every conversation. But sometimes, you have to be quick to listen.
Use appropriate words when speaking to others because your testimony matters. How can you lead others to Jesus if you continue to stumble in your talk life?
Our words must be acceptable in His sight because He’s always looking.
Your Testimony Depends on Appropriate Thoughts
How do we maintain an appropriate thought life? The Apostle Paul gives us pointed instruction in his letter to the Philippians in 4:8 where he says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
This passage gives us a fairly extensive list, but it’s a list nevertheless. I don’t believe the Lord wants us to spend time meditating on our current and sobering situation, but rather about things that matter in life. I’m not minimizing the effect of COVID. My parents both had it, and it was a stressful time for me for sure. But, in that same chapter, Paul tells us to be anxious for nothing (4:6).
So that leaves us with the question, “How will we approach our day today?”
I’m giving you the challenge to look at things from a different viewpoint. Perhaps you are seeking to find some joy in this Christmas season. I want you to know you can find it. Your part is simple. Think differently.
Our thoughts must be acceptable in His sight because He’s always looking.
Your Testimony Depends on Dependable Security
What does security have to do with your testimony? I believe when you speak about the Lord, you should talk about His love for you displayed as a shelter from the storms and difficulties life seems to bring. Everyone’s discouraged right now. Everyone seems to have a list of complaints and discouraging events over the past year.
But, the truth is that the Lord is a rock. Psalm 18:2 reminds us that our joy is a result of taking refuge n the immovable rock that provides safety and shelter for us.
How can we tell others about the Lord when we live miserable lives and fail to trust the Lord for the things He promises to provide? In many ways, it is a false sense of security for us, and others around us see it because it becomes part of our hearts and flows out of our mouths.
Do you see how it fits together?
Our refuge must be acceptable in His sight because He’s always looking.
Your Testimony Depends on an Exceptional Redeemer
That’s right. If Jesus did not die on the cross for our sins, we have no testimony (1 Corinthians 15:14). If we fail to place our faith in Jesus and what He did on the cross for us by willingly accepting our penalty for our sins, everything else written before this in Psalm 19:14 is meaningless.
Our faith experience with Jesus is what matters. If we place our faith in Jesus, our words will change, our thoughts will change, and our refuge will change. We will no longer need to live with our heads hanging low in discouragement and despair. What kind of testimony is that to the world who seeks hope without finding it?
The one who saves us (Jesus) is the one who empowers us to speak rightly, think rightly, and rest rightly.
So how will you respond today? Remember, what we speak, think, and do should be acceptable in HIS sight, not others.
Our Savior, Provider, and Protector is Jesus.
We have to make some choices today. Will you?