Summer Devotional | 2020 - Day 1
Deep Cuts
By Kevin Batista
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14
There is something really powerful about music. It has the power to instantly bring back memories or magically transport you to a specific time, place, experience, and help you recall people and circumstances. When a familiar tune comes on, it’s fascinating how easy it is to sing the lyrics, bob your head, move those hips, and sing into an imaginary microphone.
I love music, and that’s probably why I love the book of Psalms. Everyone is familiar with David’s greatest hit, Psalm 23, but just like you and I have our favorite deep cuts from your favorite artist, Psalm 19 is up there for me. One verse that stands out to me is Psalm 19:14: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.”
C.S. Lewis once said about this Psalm: “I take this to be the greatest poem in the Psalter and one of the greatest lyrics in the world.” Like a good song, this chapter is beauty in simplicity. It’s about two things: God’s creation and God’s Word.
The first six verses teach us about God’s great majesty, power, and love for us through His creation. We spend a lot of time inside, but when we are able to get out and under the big Texas starry sky, we realize just how much creation declares how great God really is. It’s amazing that God, in all the vastness of creation, cares for you intimately.
In the second half of Psalm 19, we learn that just as the sun has restored natural life to our planet, God’s Word restores life to the human soul. As someone once wrote, “The sun dispels physical darkness, but the Word of God removes the darkness of ignorance from our understanding. It is flawless and reliable.”
When it comes to the Bible, David declares it can make foolish people like you and me WISE! It helps you see things through God’s eyes and not your own. In an ever-changing culture, it helps you discern what is enduring and not just a passing fad. In other words, when you live out the tune of God’s Word, your life is not a one hit wonder, here today, forgotten tomorrow. Your life has eternal significance. You’re a classic that never goes out of style.
David closes his song by asking God for strength to be mindful of what goes out of his mouth and what is stuck in his heart. As Warren Wiersbe once wrote, “The Word in the hand is fine; the Word in the head is better; but the Word in the heart is what transforms us and matures us in Christ.”
Daily Challenge
Pretend all your conversations are being recorded to be played to your family and friends at the end of day. How does this affect the way you talk and interact with others?
Author Bio
Kevin Batista
Kevin’s parents were church planters overseas, and from an early age, he saw the life-changing impact that the Church has worldwide. He believes that the Church can help people discover and use their unique gifts to impact eternity. Outside of work, Kevin loves hanging out with family and friends at the movies, games, or concerts. He is also a frustrated guitar player. He and his wife, Kim, have three great kids.
