My Mouth and My Heart

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight,

O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

-     Psalm 19:14 NKJV

When I first started writing this Moment to Reflect workplace devotionals about three years ago, I would always insert a picture of a mirror near the title.  I wanted anyone who read it to know that each entry was as much written to me as it was written for  my fellow teachers.   While most of the reflections ended up intertwining humor with something God had been showing me throughout the week, there have been a few entries when I poured out my frustrations as a teacher.

Today's soul bearing entry comes from me looking into the mirror concerning the words of my mouth,and the meditations of my heart, or as I like to say, "the stuff I want to say but have too much upbringing or reputation to uphold" kind of meditation.

 

Therefore, I have to come clean.  These past few weeks, I have listened to me chime in on the latest gossip, chime in on the complaining, start the complaining, listen to the cursing without walking away, and even chime in on the cursing in the meditations of my heart…and behind my teeth.  I’m not having the best of school years and I didn’t mind letting anyone who would ask know it.

  The bible says faith without works is dead. Soooo, although I can read and pray the Forty Days of Prayer for Education,   if my mind is not renewed from the things that God is showing me about myself, what I believe and know God to be able to do for myself, students and school will never manifest.

Here are some "good" points
to having good conversations.

The hard look in the mirror came again today as I was reminded of the parable of the wheat and the tare (weed). Growing side by side, they looked almost the same which made it impossible to pull up the weed until it was harvest time.  This, I likened to the  "good" and "God" growing side by side in me.  There are good things that I do and a way I can project being a good person, especially if I keep my mouth shut.  But what about my heart? I would rather have God as the sole proprietor of my heart doing good works through me, than for me to try to do good things with a quiet, complaining, angry heart.  

 Here are Godly points on having a Godly conversation! 

My hope for total transformation is found in the example of Lydia, a business woman from the New Testament book of Acts. This woman was already a woman of God doing good things.  However, the bible says that God, "opened her heart to respond/pay attention/ heed Paul's message".  

Thank you Jesus, there is always another level to go in You. So, God I lift up this heartfelt prayer to you:

Father,

You are a heart regulator. In this story with Lydia, You are showing me that even those who worship You,  still need a transforming word to change our hearts.  Cleanse me from my secret faults and keep me from presumptuous sins.  Help me to understand being good on the outside is not good enough. Knowing the good way to speak into my situations is not good enough. Open my heart to Your ways and cover my heart with Your language for out of the abundance of my heart, my mouth will speak. Show me the Godly way to speak. Your word gives me hope that when I call, You will answer and make me bold and confident with new strength in my life. It may be difficult to be different, but I desire You more than popularity.

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. May they come up before You visible and pleasant as the sweet smell of incense. 

Father, may You open others' hearts to respond to this message as You did for me.

In Jesus' name,

Amen

The Lord is with you and you are love,

Toni 

Please enjoy this week's song!