Psalm 19:14

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. (KJV)

Reflection by Kenneth Samuel

In the little church in which I was reared, we would have Prayer and Testimony service on Friday nights.  I remember one night a woman rose from the pew to give her testimony.  She said, "Saints, I used to be a chain smoker.  But tonight I thank God for not only taking cigarettes out of my mouth; I thank God for taking the taste for cigarettes out of my mouth!"

As a little boy listening to her, I thought to myself that if God not only had power to stop a harmful deed, but power to stop the desire that precipitated the deed, then God must be powerful. As I've grown older, I've often wondered about some things that I may no longer do, but that I still have the taste for, nonetheless.  And I am compelled, now more than ever, to more closely examine my life in Christ when my unspoken thoughts betray my spoken words.

Ethical behavior is vitally important.  Yet, there is something about faith in God that moves our consciousness beyond outward actions to the viscera of inner intentions, desires and meditations.  Personal integrity can be defined as the cohesion of mind, body and spirit—thought, action and intention.  My greatest challenge in life is to bring the meditations of my heart into alignment with God's will.  After that, I pray that the words of my mouth and the actions in my life will match the meditations of my heart.

Prayer

Dear God, please help me to love you and your mission personally and publicly; outwardly and inwardly; verbally and viscerally.  Help my actions and my intentions to be pleasing in your sight.  Amen.

About the Author Kenneth L. Samuel is Pastor of Victory for the World Church, Stone Mountain, Georgia.

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