Words of the Heart
Psalm 19:7–14
The law of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure and gives wisdom to the innocent.
The statutes of the Lord are just and rejoice the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear and gives light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean and endures for ever;
the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold,
sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb.
By them also is your servant enlightened,
and in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can tell how often he offends?
cleanse me from my secret faults.
Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins;
let them not get dominion over me;
then shall I be whole and sound, and innocent of a great offense.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)
Today we encounter these familiar words attributed to David from the final verse of Psalm 19. Many of us are accustomed to hearing them just before a sermon but they are not just for the pulpit. We hear a prayerful plea to God to align our spoken words and thoughts with God’s will. Our words have the potential to build up or destroy, to invite or reject. This verse emphasizes the importance of not only speaking righteously but also having a heart that is truly in line with God’s will.
David is able to offer this prayer because of his understanding that God’s ordering work is evident not only in nature but also through God’s word through the law. The psalm describes the attributes of the law and is clear that the law of the Lord is perfect, revives the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, giving wisdom to the innocent. The statutes of the Lord are just and rejoice the heart. We come to understand that God’s word is so priceless and so delightful because it tells us how to order our lives.
The way to orient our lives toward God begins in the heart. The psalm relays that the words we speak show what is in our hearts. It is God’s word that is capable of changing the hardest hearts and renewing the most downtrodden souls. It cuts through our defenses, exposes our innermost thoughts and intentions, and confronts us with the truth about ourselves. When we open our hearts to the God’s word, it challenges us to grow, to cleanse our thoughts and reveal our faults so that God will be pleased with our lives. If we want our hearts to continue to be transformed, they need to be touched and shaped by God’s word. Lent is the perfect time to feed our hearts through prayer and meditation on God’s word so that all we say and do may be pleasing to God.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my
heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
May these words serve as a daily prayer to guide our lives not only for a season, but at all times.
Faithfully,
Rose+
prayer
Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully increase in us your gifts of holy discipline, in almsgiving, prayer, and fasting; that our lives may be directed to the fulfilling of your most gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(Lesser Feasts & Fasts, 2006, p. 32)
Daily Lenten meditations each have a companion morning prayer video offered by the same clergy. View the YouTube playlist to find this meditation’s companion video, or to watch others.