September 21: Useless or Useful Occupation

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 7
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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 19:1414Let 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)
SA 19:14{What about our letter-writing? Have we not been tempted (and fallen before the temptation), according to our various dispositions, to let the hand that holds the pen move at the impulse to write an unkind thought of another; or to say a clever and sarcastic thing, or a slightly colored and exaggerated thing, which will make our point more telling; or to let out a grumble or a suspicion; or to let the pen run away with us into flippant and trifling words, unworthy of our high and holy calling? Have we not drifted away from the golden reminder, "Should he reason with unprofitable talk, and with speeches wherewith he can do no good?" Why has this been, perhaps again and again? Is it not for want of putting our hands into our dear Master's hand, and asking and trusting Him to keep them? He could have kept; He would have kept! Whatever our work or our special temptations may be, the principle remains the same, only let us apply it for ourselves.
I look up to my Father, and know that I am heard,
And ask Him for the glowing thought, and for the fitting word;
I look up to my Father, for I cannot write alone,
'Tis sweeter far to seek His strength than lean upon my own.