Psalm 19: Bringing Your Words Before God
Before the message is sent or the conversation begins, there is room for a prayer. Psalm 19 brings both spoken words and the thoughts beneath them into God’s presence.
May these words of my mouth
(Psalm 19:14, NIV, excerpt)
The psalm moves from creation’s witness to praise for God’s instruction. David receives the warning and wisdom of that instruction, asks for forgiveness and protection from deliberate sin, and prays that his words and inner reflection would please the Lord.
Pray about what is shaping your words
Read the final verses slowly. Notice that the prayer reaches beneath polished speech to the heart from which words come.
Before a conversation that matters, ask God for truthfulness, humility, and care for the other person. Consider what you know, what you need to ask, and what would be useful to say.
If a harsh response is taking shape in your thoughts, pause and bring it honestly to Him. Ask for help responding in a way consistent with the teaching of Jesus.
You can also pray before an ordinary exchange. A greeting, a note of thanks, or a patient explanation may become an opportunity to use words with attention and love.
A prayer
Lord, my Rock and Redeemer, attend to my heart and my words. Forgive what is sinful and teach me to speak truth with care. Help the conversations of this day reflect the grace and wisdom of Jesus. Amen.
Keep reading: Speaking Honestly With Someone You Love · The Bereans Receive the Word and Examine Scripture.
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Let the words we carry into the world begin in prayer.
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