Wrong thoughts lead to suspicion, contempt, anger, bitterness, lust, envy, deceit, evil speaking, and myriad sins enough to fill up the rest of this short blog post. I don’t want any of those in my life!

My desire

• “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).
• Desire and aspiration and good intentions are not enough.
• Neither is an acknowledgement of truth.

My petition

• “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).
• This is the only way Psalm 19:14 will ever be true.
• We speak from the abundance of our hearts (Luke 6:45).
• This is God’s work, but He doesn’t leave me workless.

My parts

• I must choose right thinking, filtering out the evil.
• “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
• Too often, the worst evil conversations I listen in on and participate in are my own thoughts.
• “Do not err; bad conversations corrupt good customs” (1 Corinthians 15:33, my translation from Spanish).
• I must bring every thought into subjection to the Lord Jesus.
• “Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

My commitment

• Listen to Psalm 19:14 again: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
• I commit myself to acceptable thinking and speaking.
• I need His strength for fulfill such a daunting commitment.
• And I need His redeeming work in me when I fail and repent.

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45).

Face temptation the right way!

Note: I was the moderator of our evening service Sunday night. To introduce the evening topic of “Resolving Bitterness,” I used the above notes (expanded a bit for this medium) in the opening devotional. I said quite a bit more, of course. 🙂

My brief presentation could be significantly expanded. What do you have to add as another tip for thinking right thoughts and speaking right words?