Devotional for Monday, January 15, 2018
“Your Thoughts = Your Words”
by Dona Hake
“May the words from my mouth and the thoughts from my
heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my defender.”
Psalm 19:14
heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my defender.”
Psalm 19:14
I believe that God desires for us to have hearts that determine to be pure and upright before Him. He desires that we value each and every word that proceeds from our mouth. He wants us to diligently watch over and guard our hearts that the words we speak will be pure and acceptable to Him. May we purpose to guard the words or promises that we make to people around us. When a man or woman makes a promise and does not keep his word, it conveys a message of one that does not watch over the words that they speak.
“Promises are NOT made to be broken.
Promises are made to be honored.”
Promises are made to be honored.”
I encourage you today to make a constant effort to be purposeful to speak words that are edifying, true, and words that are full of goodness and mercy. Make an effort to stand behind your words to the best of your ability.
As we meditate upon guarding our words we must first be guarding how we are thinking before we even speak. May we stop and purpose to ask ourselves the questions…”Am I thinking good thoughts, pure thoughts, thoughts that are of honor and praise?” “Is my opinion and thoughts on this matter worthy to be spoken? I have heard it said that just because a thought pops into your mind does not mean it has to be spoken. We would spar ourselves a lot of grief if we would stop and filter ourselves with these questions.
Philippians 4:8 instructs us in how we should keep our hearts and minds for our thoughts surely become words sooner or later. May we watch over our words and promises that we speak that we can be known as a person of our word. God desires that the words we speak be honored as we keep our promises.
Philippians 4:8 Expanded Bible
“ Finally; In conclusion; or Now then] Brothers and sisters, ·think about [focus your thoughts on; fill your minds with] things that are true and honorable and ·right [just] and pure and ·beautiful [lovely] and ·respected [commendable]. If there is anything that is ·good [morally excellent] and worthy of praise, ·think about [focus your thoughts on; fill your minds with] these things.”
“ Finally; In conclusion; or Now then] Brothers and sisters, ·think about [focus your thoughts on; fill your minds with] things that are true and honorable and ·right [just] and pure and ·beautiful [lovely] and ·respected [commendable]. If there is anything that is ·good [morally excellent] and worthy of praise, ·think about [focus your thoughts on; fill your minds with] these things.”