Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a
tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
Seasons of frustration and turmoil often get the best of us. We can manage a day or two of tension and stress, but if we face anxiety and worry over a substantial period of time, we usually get spiritually, emotionally, and even physically worn down. In the end, we resemble a house plant you forgot to water over the summer; our souls and bodies are wilted and withered. How do we weather a time of worry without growing weak? We nourish our soul with scripture.
Psalm 1 gives us a vivid picture of a person who has planted his or her life in God’s Word (referred to in verse 2 as “the law of the Lord” and “his law”). They are “like a tree planted by streams of water.” In other words, they have positioned their lives to receive consistent nourishment as their roots reach out to the source of strength beneath the surface. In times of drought, they do not wither because they are abundantly supplied.
Are you positioning your life during this season to receive the consistent nourishment of scripture? Why not take this extended hours of solitude and plant yourself firmly in your Bible? Choose a section of scripture upon which to focus over the next couple of weeks. Here are some ideas:
· The life of King David (1 & 2 Samuel)
· A daily Psalm (there are almost 5 months worth!)
· The books of the Bible with which you are the least familiar
· The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) or the parables of Jesus
· One of the larger letters of the New Testament like Romans or Hebrews
These are just a few options to get you going. I think you will find as you begin to read God’s Word on a regular basis, it will become a natural part of your life. In fact, you will find you will become a person “whose delight is in the law of the Lord.” And during this time, when others are withering in frustration, your life will yield an abundance of blessing.
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