Acceptable

by Pastor Tim Klein

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Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer (Psalm 19:14).

Read Psalm 19

Where have you heard these words before? How often have you heard them?

From me, I have heard them as a prayer prelude to many sermons by many different preachers.

It’s a good prayer, but perhaps it shouldn’t be limited to preaching sermons. What if God’s people prayed this prayer in the many different circumstances of their lives? For example, just before a meeting, in the morning before you meet your family and then go off to work, as you head off to school or play sport.

In my experience, it’s always a good thing to take the word of the Lord into my head and heart and then onto my tongue. It makes a difference. It adds a level of consciousness to what I might say and the situations in which I say them. The Lord’s Spirit will direct me away from error and toward the truth – away from sin and to his grace.

Some preachers may also pray: ‘Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth’ (John 17:17 ESV). In this prayer, the preacher is asking that the word proclaimed is truth – God’s truth – a truth that will renew and restore those listening people in their holiness.

This is a powerful package. When we (both preachers and everyday people) engage the Lord in this prayer, his Spirit will indeed go to work in us. More than that, if what we say is acceptable to the Lord and reflects his truth, it will inevitably have a positive impact on the place where it is said.

We don’t always know the impact of what is said. We simply need to trust that the Lord remains faithful to what he has promised. We can trust that when his word is faithfully and truthfully brought into the circumstances of people’s lives, he will be at work there. We trust the Lord when he says he works for good for those who love him. And so, we know and trust that he will work for good through any word of truth spoken into their lives.

So, here we are at the end of another week of devotions. This is my prayer:

Dear Lord: I pray that the words of my lips and the meditations of our hearts are acceptable to you through Jesus, our rock and redeemer. I pray that you have been at work in these truths that have been expressed this week, sanctifying and renewing each of us in our faith and life. In the name of Christ. Amen.

Tim has served as a pastor for more than 30 years in Australia and New Zealand. Not retired but repurposed on 12 January, this husband of wife Joy, father of three and grandfather of 10 intends to spend more time in the garden, write some songs that have long lingered in his mind and heart and keep up with the activities of his grandchildren and friends. He also has several active beehives that need managing, with some still to be constructed and populated. Tim will continue his voluntary service as a chaplain with SA Police.

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