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Psalm 19:14 - Prayer of Consecration.

Psa. 19:14; Prayer of Consecration.

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

This psalm, which begins with a contemplation of God in his 
works, appropriately closes with a contemplation of God in redemption  
(Barnes' Notes) 

Given the fact of the universal glories of God's revelation in 
nature and his perfections and power to impact men through his special 
verbal revelation, the psalmist offers a prayer. He acknowledges the 
moral implications of God's revelation to him as a sinner who 
passionately desires to know God as Rock and Redeemer. [Jamieson, Fausset, 
And Brown Commentary] 

The psalm closes with a prayer ....... petition for purity of 
word and thought in the experiences of every day. [SDA Commentary] 

David asks that God approve his words and thoughts as though 
they were offerings brought to the altar. As you begin each day, 
determine that God's love will guide what you say and how you think. [Life 
Application SB] 

This prayer is often, with great propriety uttered by pious 
people when they enter a place of worship. (Adam Clarke Commentary) 

The great purpose of the truly pious is, not to please 
themselves, or to please their fellow-men, (compare ), but to 
please God. (Barnes' Notes) 

Pray to him to exert such an influence on our minds that our 
words and thoughts may be right and pure; (Barnes' Notes) 

Prayer is such a privilege for the believer.  Just knowing that 
we can come into His presence any time, anywhere, and speak to Him, 
brings great comfort. And knowing that not only the words from our 
mouth are heard, but the thoughts of our hearts are considered to be 
prayer, brings great joy!  What changes should we make if we determine 
to have our prayer time bring pleasure to the Lord  rather than 
pleasure to ourselves?  How could we alter our thought-life so that the 
things we think about are considered prayer?  We would do well to 
realize that God is our ever-listening Father. [In His Time; Walk With 
Wisdom] 

This oft-quoted verse attests to the importance and desirability 
of our words and thoughts being consistent with God's Word and 
will. The text literally says, "Let what I speak and what my heart 
murmurs to itself be a delight to You, God." The truth of this text 
urges us to always speak the kind of words that confirm what we 
believe or think in our hearts about our Heavenly Father, His love, and 
His power. 
To believe yet contradict our beliefs with careless words from 
our mouth is not acceptable in God's sight. Such words not only 
become faithless and fruitless to us, but they can produce doubts in 
others--both believers and unbelievers. Rather, Acts 5:19, 20 give a command 
that is as true for us as it was for the apostles, "An angel of the 
Lord . . . said, 'Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all 
the words of this life.'" 
As we go about our daily activities today, let us speak the 
words of life that delight the Lord. Hayford and Middlebrook (LSFL) 
[Spirit Filled Life Devotional SB] 

The word "meditation" here has the image of a musician plucking 
the strings of a harp. Who controls the music of your heart, God or 
Satan? Meditation is to the heart what digestion is to the body; it is 
the taking in of the Word of God and making it a part of the inner 
being. As the heart and mind think on the Word all day long, the Spirit 
guides the life. This is what it means to walk in the Spirit (Gal. 
5:16) and to have the spiritual mind (Rom. 8:1-8). [Wiersbe Expository 
Outlines] 

As God works upon the heart by His Holy Spirit, man must 
cooperate with Him. The thoughts must be bound about, restricted, 
withdrawn from branching out and contemplating things that will only 
weaken and defile the soul. The thoughts must be pure, the meditations 
of the heart must be clean, if the words of the mouth are to be 
words acceptable to heaven, and helpful to your associates. . . 
.[Matt. 12:34-37 quoted.]  
In the sermon on the mount, Christ presented before His 
disciples the far-reaching principles of the law of God. He taught His 
hearers that the law was transgressed by the thoughts before the evil 
desire was carried out in actual commission. We are under obligation to 
control our thoughts, and to bring them into subjection to the law of 
God. The noble powers of the mind have been given to us by the Lord, 
that we may employ them in contemplating heavenly things. God has 
made abundant provision that the soul may make continual progression 
in the divine life. He has placed on every hand agencies to aid our 
development in knowledge and virtue; and yet, how little these agencies are 
appreciated or enjoyed! How often the mind is given to the contemplation of 
that which is earthly, sensual, and base! We give our time and 
thought to the trivial and commonplace things of the world, and neglect 
the great interests that pertain to eternal life. The noble powers 
of the mind are dwarfed and enfeebled by lack of exercise on themes 
that are worthy of their concentration. [Phil. 4:8 quoted.]  
Let every one who desires to be a partaker of the divine nature 
appreciate the fact that he must escape the corruption that is in the world 
through lust. There must be a constant, earnest struggling of the soul 
against the evil imaginings of the mind. There must be a steadfast 
resistance of temptation to sin in thought or act. The soul must be kept 
from every stain, through faith in Him who is able to keep you from 
falling. We should meditate upon the scriptures, thinking soberly and 
candidly upon the things that pertain to our eternal salvation. The 
infinite mercy and love of Jesus, the sacrifice made in our behalf, call 
for most serious and solemn reflection. We should dwell upon the 
character of our dear Redeemer and Intercessor. We should seek to 
comprehend the meaning of the plan of salvation. We should meditate upon 
the mission of Him who came to save His people from their sins. By 
constantly contemplating heavenly themes, our faith and love will grow 
stronger. Our prayers will be more and more acceptable to God, because 
they will be more and more mixed with faith and love. They will be 
more intelligent and fervent. There will be more constant confidence 
in Jesus, and you will have a daily, living experience in the 
willingness and power of Christ to save unto the uttermost all that come 
unto God by Him.  
By beholding we are to become changed, and as we meditate upon 
the perfections of our divine Model, we shall desire to become 
wholly transformed and renewed in the image of His purity. There will 
be a hungering and thirsting of soul to be made like Him whom we 
adore. The more our thoughts are upon Christ, the more we shall speak 
of Him to others, and represent Him to the world. 3BC1145 

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues 
of life." Diligent heart-keeping is essential to a healthy growth 
in grace. The heart in its natural state is a habitation for unholy 
thoughts and sinful passions. When brought into subjection to Christ, it 
must be cleansed by the Spirit from all defilement. This can not be 
done without the consent of the individual.  
When the soul has been cleansed, it is the duty of the Christian 
to keep it undefiled. Many seem to think that the religion of 
Christ does not call for the abandonment of daily sins, the breaking 
loose from habits which have held the soul in bondage. They renounce 
some things condemned by the conscience, but they fail to represent 
Christ in the daily life. They do not bring Christlikeness into the 
home. They do not show a thoughtful care in their choice of words. Too 
often, fretful, impatient words are spoken, words which stir the worst 
passions of the human heart. Such ones need the abiding presence of 
Christ in the soul. Only in His strength can they keep guard over the 
words and actions.  
In the work of heart-keeping we must be instant in prayer, 
unwearied in petitioning the throne of grace for assistance. Those who 
take the name of Christian should come to God in earnestness and 
humility, pleading for help. The Saviour has told us to pray without 
ceasing. The Christian can not always be in the position of prayer, but 
his thoughts and desires can always be upward. Our self-confidence 
would vanish, did we talk less and pray more.... 
Christians should be careful that they keep the heart with all 
diligence. They should cultivate a love for meditation, and cherish a 
spirit of devotion. Many seem to begrudge moments spent in meditation, 
and the searching of the Scriptures, and prayer, as though the time 
thus occupied was lost. I wish you could all view these things in the 
light God would have you; for you would then make the kingdom of 
heaven of the first importance. To keep your heart in heaven, will give 
vigor to all your graces, and put life into all your duties. To 
discipline the mind to dwell upon heavenly things, will put life and 
earnestness into all our endeavors. Our efforts are languid, and we run the 
Christian race slowly, and manifest indolence and sloth, because we so 
little value the heavenly prize. We are dwarfs in spiritual 
attainments. It is the privilege and duty of the Christian to be "increasing 
in the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the 
measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." [Eph. 4:13.] As 
exercise increases the appetite, and gives strength and healthy vigor to 
the body, so will devotional exercises bring an increase of grace 
and spiritual vigor.  
The affections should center upon God. Contemplate His 
greatness, His mercy and excellences. Let His goodness and love and 
perfection of character captivate your heart. Converse upon His divine 
charms, and the heavenly mansions He is preparing for the faithful. He 
whose conversation is in heaven, is the most profitable Christian to 
all around him. His words are useful and refreshing. They have a 
transforming power upon those who hear them, and will melt and subdue the 
soul.     
Let the prayer go up to God, "Create in me a clean heart;" for a 
pure, cleansed soul has Christ abiding therein, and out of the 
abundance of the heart are the issues of life. The human will is to be 
yielded to Christ. Instead of passing on, closing the heart in 
selfishness, there is need of opening the heart to the sweet influences of 
the Spirit of God. Practical religion breathes its fragrance 
everywhere. It is a savor of life unto life.  3BC1157