“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” - Psalm 19:14

Social and behavioral scientists estimate that the average person speaks 10,000–20,000 words a day. Neuroscientists suggest that we have about 6,200 thoughts each day. Of all those words, only a small percentage may have real value. We say a lot each day, but how much of it is meaningful to others—or to ourselves? We also have many thoughts while awake (about 6.5 a minute on average), but how many are positive, healthy, and productive?

God’s Word can shape a man’s words and thoughts. Psalm 19:2 captures this truth: “Day after day, they (the heavens) pour out speech; night after night (skies) communicate knowledge.” The second day of creation still speaks to us, even without words or thoughts.

This is known as God’s general revelation. Yet Scripture offers an even clearer revelation of who God is. In verse 7, the psalmist writes: “The law (instruction) of the LORD is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.”

Brothers, Scripture is perfect. It contains everything we need to know about how to live, speak, and think. In Hebrew, words (speech) and thoughts (meditation) are related.

The word “meditate” or “meditation” literally means to “mutter,” or speak under your breath. The word used in verse 14 refers to a “murmuring sound.” God has provided a way for every man to speak and think rightly. His law—His commandments, precepts, statutes, and instruction—is perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, valuable, desirable, true, and righteous. His Word is so powerful that it exposes secret faults and keeps us from willful sin. These warnings guard us against wrongdoing, and we are rewarded when we heed them.

But just as importantly, look at the closing prayer request of the psalmist: “let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You”… True godliness is not just what a man does, but what he says with his mouth and thinks in his heart. Brothers, we must protect our eye gate, ear gate, and mouth gate with the Word of God.

A brother once said we should tithe our words to God. Father, help us to do that.

Prayer: “Lord, You hear every word we speak in a day, and You know each thought we think every second. May they be acceptable to You. Lord, You alone are our strength (rock) and kinsman-redeemer. Thank You for saving us.”

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