Psalm - Psalm 15

Psalm 15:2He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart.

Walks: behave

Uprightly: sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity

Works: to do or make systematically and habitually

Righteousness: ethically right

Speaks: be spokesman, declare

Truth: faithful, right, sure, true, verity

Heart: he man himself—meaning characteristic

“Walk straight, act right, tell the truth." Psalm 15:2 (MSG)

Behave. Create a habit of being ethically right. Be a spokesman for truth. 

Actions. Attitude. Words. Are they in accordance with God and His Word? Simple question. Think about your response before you answer. Remember it's in accordance to God's standard, not what you think or feel. 

“Walk straight, act right, tell the truth." 

Words Spoken

The news lately has been about a recording made several years ago. The talk was not God-honoring in anyway.

It made me stop and think...... 

First of all, if all I said throughout my lifetime was recorded and played back, would I regret any of my words? 

Secondly, I will have to stand before God and give an account of my words, actions, and thoughts as to whether or not they were pure or trash.

Words can come back to haunt you. That is why God gives us advice—Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23). A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45) NKJV

I know that over the years, I have said things that I now regret. Some were said in anger. Some were said with the wrong motive. Some were said to impress. Some were said — no matter the reason—they were not the right words.

I'm thankful for a merciful God, so graciously forgives me of my sin and continues to teach me. I must daily surrender my life - all of it - to God and in doing so, remember Philippians 4:8.

WORDS do have an impact. And so do ACTIONS. Is one worse than the other? By God's standards even our thoughts are heard by Him. So BOTH words and actions matter.

I'm thankful that all the words I have said in the past were not recorded to be played for each of you to hear. And I'm even more thankful for a forgiving God.

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)

Heard, because it was Spoken!

Throughout this year, each day of the month, I'm "Treasure Hunting" in a Psalm. I've created a "Ponder Every Morsel of Truth" Book to record the truths as I learn them. The twelfth of each month, I'm studying Psalm 138. Here's what Treasure I found today.

All the kings of the land shall give You credit and praise You, O Lord, for they have heard of the promises of Your mouth [which were fulfilled]. Psalm 138:4 (AMP)

All the kings of the earth will give thanks to you, O Lord, because they have heard the promises you spoke. Psalm 138:4 (GW)

heard: to hear intelligently, attentively, carefully, certainly, consider.

Praise was given to God because the kings of the land, HEARD. If the message isn’t communicated, then people can’t hear.. and there is no praise. 

In the world of twitter, facebook, emails, text messages, etc., we have instant access to telling people what is going on in our lives. We make sure everyone knows what we ate for dinner, or what we are doing at that very instant, or who we just saw, or even our location. 

But how many times do we share what God is doing in our lives? How many times do we share what God is teaching us? How many times do we simply share God’s love with others? How can people praise God... if they don’t hear? And how can they hear, if we don’t speak? 

I think it’s time I evaluate my tweets, wall posts, emails, and even my actual spoken words, to see if I’m speaking about God and His promises. For if I want the ‘kings of the lands” to praise God... it has to start with me voicing reasons that my God should be praised. 

Heard, because it was spoken—and if I want to create a positive day filled with praise to God, I must be speaking about Him!