Is what I think as important as what I say?

August 5, 2013 Please “Share” this link to a new Precious Prodigal Blog Post Is what I think as important as what I say? http://wp.me/p1D8dQ-c9

Is what I think as important as what I say?

Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord…”

It has always been our custom to visit local churches when we are traveling, and this trip was no exception. The church was very small, and Harry and I found their non-traditional service very interesting. After the usual music and opening prayers, the pastor introduced a subject and read the Scripture passages to the groups that were sitting around tables in the fellowship hall. Then each small group discussed the verses and shared how those verses could be applied to them individually, to their families, an to their church.

I had to get outside my comfort zone to participate, but I really did get something out of it as God reminded me to “keep the main thing the main thing” in my life, in my ministry and in my relationships. But I also got something out of the “Respect Community Guidelines” handout that was part of the packet they gave each of us. Using the acronym “RESPECT,” it listed seven parts of respectful communication, and my heart was convicted with the very first one.

The “R” meant I was to “take responsibility for what I say and feel without blaming others.” Ouch! While it wasn’t a problem for me to do that in my small group in a church I was visiting, it certainly can be a problem at other times. And yet God expects me to do and to be the very best I can…and not just on Sunday morning.

Part of that is taking ownership of not only what comes out of my mouth but also what I’m thinking in my heart. That isn’t easy, and seeing people I don’t usually encounter but whom I saw at my son’s wedding this week didn’t make it any easier. When my newly married son “hacked” my Facebook page yesterday and was posting silly and extremely funny things, anyone who knows me knew I wasn’t the one typing those things because they knew what I would or wouldn’t say. And they were right. However, while I can usually be gracious with my words, it’s often a different story about what’s going on in my heart.

The psalmist recognized that when he asked God to let the “meditations of [his] heart be acceptable” in God’s sight. God isn’t concerned only with what we look or sound like on the outside. He cares equally as much about what’s going on inside hour hearts. Notice the psalmist said “meditations” rather than “thoughts.” We can’t control random thoughts and the places those thoughts sometimes take us. But we absolutely do have a choice about whether we pitch a tent and stay there. Meditation is just focused thinking. For me, for today, I can choose to focus my thoughts and meditate on the positive, the uplifting, the good things in my life…that’s the kind of meditation that will please my God and will give me the peace and serenity I so desire.

Thought For Today: Where are your meditations taking you today? Can you, just for today, discipline those meditations and focus on the positives in your life?