Do my Words reflect my Heart (Part 2)

From time to time, Pastor Lamb allows me to post here.  Today is second of a two part post.   Bill Davis

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O lord my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalms 19:14) KJV

  

As I mentioned last week, this scripture is often used as part of a closing prayer by Rich Hulsey, our Worship Pastor, and probably by a lot of others, as well.  When I was growing up, the youth group we had, called "Lifeliners," used this verse almost like a pledge.  We recited it every time we came together.

Many ministers use this after the reading of their scripture in their prayer before their sermon, praying that God finds their words, their public words acceptable.  Of course, ministers are not the only ones who do this.  Many of us do this.  The question is what about our private words--- our thoughts? 

My thought today is:

Am I really mindful of my thoughts with any regularity?

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right.”—Henry Ford

Someone said “What you think about, you bring about.”  Certainly, what we spend our time thinking about can lead us down a good path or a destructive path.  Some say that we become that which preoccupies us. 

Paul wrote: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Have you ever had something come through your mind that you thought, “Why in the world did I think that?”  Have you had fearful thought or destructive thoughts that just seemed to take over?  (Is that mole cancer?  Is my child safe traveling?  I don’t have a friend in the world.)  It is not easy, but some thoughts you should dwell on and others you should discard like you were cleaning out a drawer of old socks.  Is that really worth dwelling on? Let us get into the practice of discarding thoughts that are unfruitful or not useful, just like we are throwing away old socks. 

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Proverbs 23:7 (KJV)

At some point, we learned the discipline of study.  Why can’t we add some discipline to our thought process, by relying on God to help us cast away thoughts that are not fruitful nor pleasing to God?  

These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray.  Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar. (Psalms 19:14)MSG