I plan to begin a series of messages today from Psalms. The psalms are songs and prayers expressing the full range of human emotions and experiences. We can relate to these inspired words so that we pour our hearts to God and trust him in our life’s experiences.
Psalm 1, “the gateway” psalm, contrasts the righteous to the ungodly. These two paths are seen throughout Scripture Mt. 7:13.
Ps. 1:1a The blessings, fruit, and prosperity in this psalm, are associated with a lifestyle that begins with the blessing of God’s righteousness and the forgiveness of our sins Rom. 4:6-8. This is the gift of God that Jesus paid for with his life’s blood. When we believe in our heart that Jesus is the sinless, crucified, and resurrected Lord, we receive God’s priceless gift, & his Spirit enters our hearts. He helps us live by God’s word as we trust him
Ps. 1:1 Walks, stands, and sits, refer to a lifestyle that is influenced by the attitude and actions of those who are guided by this world system rather than God’s word. We must be wise and discerning about whose advice and perspective we adopt Pr. 13:20. Someone said our friends are like elevators, they can take us up, or they can take us down. They affect our blessings and our destiny. Godly fellowship is so important. It’s a spiritual safeguard.
How do we make God’s word our daily guide?
I. Delight Ps. 1:2; 119:23, 24
We’re distinguished by what we delight in. If we are born again, the One who inspired these words lives in us. We gain joy and pleasure from God’s word. We’re told to desire God’s word as a hungry newborn desires milk. If we delight in God’s word, we’ll constantly want more.
II. Dwell on & Declare Ps.1:2; Rom. 12:1, 2
Scriptural meditation involves both our minds and our mouths. It’s a lifestyle of thinking about or dwelling on and declaring God’s word for the purpose of drowning out distractions and gaining godly wisdom for living.
We renew our minds by meditation. We replace lies and ungodly thoughts with good and godly thoughts. It’s how we grow. Pr. 4:20, 21, 23 NLT What we hear, see, and experience, good or bad, can get into our heart; and our heart affects how we live. We must continually offer ourselves to God as living sacrifices to renew our minds.
III. Do Ps. 1:3; Jn. 15:5, 8
Fruit is growing in Christlikeness. I’d rather face every temptation, trial, & loss with the Lord than without him. To prosper is to be powerful, prevail, succeed. Good intentions are not enough. Doers of the word are blessed, fruitful, and prosperous in fulfilling God’s purposes.
Ps. 1:4, 5 Chaff is the outer husk of grain. It has no substance, so the wind blows it away. It pictures a life that is disconnected from God.
Ps. 1:6 The word for know means a close, caring relationship. It indicates approval Gen. 18:19.
Do you have close walk with God as your Father in heaven? God loves you. He wants you to know him and to live in his will.
How will you make God’s word your daily guide in life so you can be blessed, fruitful, & prosperous for him?