Let’s pray. God, I serve you, which means I should be doing what you want me to do. Please help me to obey your ways, to choose right from wrong. I want to be filled with a desire to please you and to demonstrate that I love you by obeying you. Thank you for forgiving my sins and bringing about change in me.

This is the prayer that accompanies Psalm 19:13a, which is letter K in Keep on Track. David the psalmist implores his Rock and his Redeemer, “Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me” (NIV).

Initiating Psalm 19, King David affirms, “The heavens declare the glory of God” and we are reminded of God’s glory being displayed, continuous, powerful, and celebrated (verses 1-6). God Almighty, who created the universe, does not hide from us. Doesn’t this set the stage for our worship of creator God? If this is the case, do we make daily choices to demonstrate that we serve him?

The psalmist, who believes that the LORD is at work in the world he made, establishes that God’s law is worth following. How can it not be after what is known of the God who reigns justly over all? The laws are described as perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, certain, and righteous (verses 7-9). God’s laws sustain us and grow us, and they bring to mind his glory.

How valuable are these words from God that give protection and wisdom to our souls! The psalmist commends them as more precious than pure gold and sweeter than honey in the comb (verse 10,11). Would we not treasure something of such extreme value? We would want to hide it in our own heart and at the same time want to share its value with others.

We do want to, right?

In our humanness, we can’t perceive all the ways our self-treasure distorts our thoughts. As David writes, “Who can discern his errors?” (verse 12). Therefore, we ask God, like David did, to forgive our hidden faults. In God’s mercy, he washes us clean. We are being transformed by the renewing of our minds, which we are to set on God.

Do we, though? Do we set our minds on honoring God and allow the Holy Spirit to help us control our thoughts?

David ends this song expressing his desire to have his thoughts and words be pleasing to the LORD. May this be a desire of ours, as well.

You can meditate on God’s Word in this way as you work through Keep on Track or any Heart Training book.