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
In his book, Simple Faith, Charles Swindoll notes: “Colors fade. Shorelines erode. Temples crumble. Empires fall. But “a word fitly spoken” endures. The Bible has a lot to say about words. Proverbs 15:1 says for instance: “A soft answer turns away wrath; But a harsh word stirs up anger. “
In a world that seems to be largely fueled by critical, deceitful, harsh, and prejudicial words, the Psalmist reminds us that our thoughts and our words must be pleasing to God. In Psalm 19:14 the psalmist offers up this earnest prayer: 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)
It does not take much to find oneself mired in negativity. Perhaps, like the Psalmist, we ought to start each day; with an intentional and simple request to God, that our thoughts and words might be soft, true, and healing.
A few months ago, I woke up to find a one sentence email in my inbox. It came from an employee at Baruch, and it simply stated: “YOU ARE AWESOME! Thank you for all you do for all of us. God bless you always.” These were unexpected, undeserved, generous, healing words, “fitly spoken” that took me by surprise. They made my day and caused me thank God for the generous and kind-natured people I encounter every day at Baruch Senior Ministries. I will never forget how that email made me feel. It reminded me to be intentional in my use of healing words.
Have you cultivated an intentional habit of sowing healing words? As you go about your day executing your responsibilities, do your words bring joy or tears to others? The desire “to honor God” starts with that simple prayer that the Psalmist utters here: “LORD, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight.” This week, let us commit to sowing healing words as often as the Holy Spirit prompts us to do so. When the week is done, let us do it all over again. We may never guess it, but so many people around us are struggling silently and need healing words. Desperately!