Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (ESV)

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (NIV)

“Acceptable" is hardly a goal most of us strive for. We wouldn’t take it as a compliment if someone described our home-cooked meal, new outfit, or term paper as "acceptable.” In fact, if we’d poured our best effort into it, we’d feel deflated. David, though, prays for his words and mediations to be “acceptable” in the sight of the Lord.

Webster’s 1828 dictionary grounds the definition of "acceptable" in action, stating that "a man makes himself acceptable by his services or civilities." More importantly, Paul pairs “acceptable” and the act of sacrifice. He urged the early Christians "to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." (Romans 12:1 ESV)

None of these would be our first way of thinking about an acceptable offering. Our conversations, feelings and daily to-dos don't naturally gravitate toward sacrifice, but instead we often default to seeking personal comfort and the approval of others. If we’re honest, the meditations of our days center on us. We fall short not just in our actions, but in our daily thoughts and speech.

The Lord knows this full well. He knows our hearts can be deceitful, our convictions shift, and our words are capable of destroying in a moment what it took years to build. He knows we can serve with mixed motives, and our sin colors our perspective.

But He does not leave us there, in our fragile self-focus. He anchors us. As our Rock, He is solid and steadfast when our thinking shifts. As our Redeemer, He gently calls back our wandering hearts. He gives our restless bodies a task that destroys our pride when he tells us to seek first His kingdom.

David called him Rock and Redeemer during a season of his life filled with uncertainty. He longed to align his heart with God’s, so he laid down his personal desires as an act of worship. The word David used carries deep roots in the language of sacrificial worship which is found in verses like Hosea 14:2 and Leviticus 1:3 meaning David used God’s own words for his plea. 

Through his song, God challenges us to turn our minds and hearts toward Him and surrender our plans for what is an “acceptable” life. He reminds us that what is “acceptable” to Him will never fall on shallow or slippery ground, and that is better than any accolade this earthly life can offer. 

Written by LeeAnn Randall