The Words of My Mouth

Psalm 19:14. "May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Many preachers say this verse before a sermon, and it is a good habit, but the verse was not written for preachers. It was written for anyone with a mouth and a heart.

It comes at the end of a psalm about two kinds of speech. In verses 1 through 6 the heavens speak, pouring out wordless praise day after day. In verses 7 through 11 God speaks, through a law that is perfect and trustworthy and sweeter than honey. Then in verses 12 through 14 David turns to his own speech and finds it needs cleansing.

That is the order. Creation praises, God instructs, and then we ask that our small words might fit into that great conversation. Tuesday is a talking day for most of us, full of meetings and messages. Before the first one, pray verse 14. Then let the Rock hold your tongue steady.