Beautiful Word Devotional #229

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight.

Psalm 19:14

We should write down—better yet, we should memorize—the psalmist’s words here. Why? Because it’s so hard to keep our words and thoughts pure, isn’t it? As we pray this verse with the psalmist, we remind ourselves just how much we need God to please him with our words and our thoughts.

Today, as you go about your day, ask God to help you choose words wisely and speak them kindly. Seek to build up someone who’s frustrated. Instead of retaliating when someone bothers you, choose to bless that person. Instead of gossiping, find positive things to say about people.

As you pray about your words, also ask God to purify your heart and to make your motives right and God-honoring rather than springing from selfish ambition or a need to be noticed. Ask God to show you where he would have you serve others—and then do so for the sake of his fame, not yours.

Lord, I do pray my words please you, and I ask you to make my heart as well as my words right today, amen.