May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14
This is one of my favourite verses. And also one of the hardest things to accomplish. Our thoughts often seem to have a mind of their own. It simply takes one thought and the next thing we know, a downward spiral has begun. For some, this has become a habitual pattern that you don’t know how to break. For others, this has been normalized and accepted. That’s why it’s so important to have this prayer at the forefront of our everyday lives.
When I was in school for counselling, I was taught about the power of our thoughts and the way it can directly impact how we live. We can have a life of peace, joy and security or we can have a life of stress, discontentment and anxiety. It all begins in the mind. I believe this is why the Lord instructs us “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). It is key to train your thoughts to focus on good and godly things. Paul instructs the Philippian church, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things,” (Philippians 4:8).
This is so important! It is from our thoughts that our mouths speak. And if our thoughts are in the wrong place, our words can bring destruction – both to ourselves and those around us. Your words have power! Proverbs 18:21 tells us that, “The tongue has the power of life and death.” You need to ensure that your mind is right, so that your words are right. When we have power, as the Word tells us we do, we need to be good stewards of that power. Your words have the power to give life or to destroy. Have you noticed how someone’s demeanor changes when a word of encouragement is given to them? Have you seen how rejection can also affect someone? This is the power you possess right now.
If you’ve been in a place where your thoughts and words have been destructive, it’s not too late. You may have grown up where speaking negatively was common and accepted. But it doesn’t have to be that way anymore. Change is possible when you believe in the transformative power of Jesus.
Reflect on how you have allowed negative thoughts to derail you. How have these thoughts impacted how you speak? Ask the Lord for forgiveness today and pray, “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Make this a daily prayer when you first wake up and throughout the day.
