“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” —Psalm 19:14 The material below is from “A Year With God,” by Dr Richard J. Foster
This familiar verse invites God’s scrutiny and correction (see 139:23-24). The word translated “meditation” here would be better rendered “whisperings” or “murmurings.” Welcoming God’s knowing and shaping of our inner talk deepens our vulnerability. It is a huge step in our formation.
Joyce Huggett writes, “We meditate to give God’s words the opportunity to penetrate not just our minds, but our emotions—the places where we hurt—and our will—the place where we make choices and decisions. We meditate to encounter the Living Word, Jesus Himself. We meditate so the every part of our being, our thoughts and our affections and our ambitions, are turned to face and honour and glorify him. Yet another reason for learning to meditate is so that we may become conversant with the will of God.”10 Use this quote as inspiration for your meditation today. Or you may wish to begin with this prayer.
Father God, today I come to you in meditative prayer. I ask that you open my heart to whatever you want to show me. Guide my meditations, my inner whispers, in the way that is acceptable and pleasing to you. I want so much for you to shape my inner being, yet I don’t often seem to succeed at setting aside the time for you to do this work. Help me to be consistent in my meditations over the coming days, that I may come to you eagerly to learn, to be changed. In your name I pray. Amen.
Artwork: Majestic Lion of Judah by William Hallmark
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