I am meditating on Psalm 1 and it has been a challenge for me to take in what it has to say about a godly life. Specifically I will share with you verses 1-3 and my thoughts on this section. In the NLT translation it says this:
"Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants; day and night they think about his law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper."
Of course I group myself in with the godly. I have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Therefore, the blessings apply to me. Right? Well, hold on. It says they bear fruit in each season without fail, their leaves never wither, in all they do, they prosper. I thought, "Wait. That's not true...I do not bear fruit EACH season WITHOUT FAIL. I do have withering leaves. I do not prosper in EVERYTHING I do." So I had to go back... What this scripture is saying to me is those who do not follow the advice of the wicked [ever], or stand around with sinners [ever], or join in with scoffers [ever], but they delight in EVERYTHING the Lord wants; DAY AND NIGHT they think about His law - THESE people have the unfailing blessings described in verse 3. That would not, in fact, be me.
Now don't freak about me being too hard on myself and all that. I know there is no one righteous. No not one; that I will never be perfect and that Jesus paid the price for my shortcomings. However, God does not waste words. He wants me to strive for the ideal and He tells me clearly what could be lacking when I am not seeing the fullness of His blessings.
God also is a merciful, personal, loving God. And while I am going through all this muck in life and He is shedding light on my true heart, He is loving me in such personal ways. For example:
Directly across from this Psalm in my iWorship Devotional Bible is Psalm 3:3-6, "But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts my head high. I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain. I lay down and slept. I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side." Can you say, "Big fat hug from Daddy"?? Every day when I am re-reading and pondering Psalm 1, I also get this sweet comfort from my Father.
That's not all. No. I received an email from a very dear woman who I have never met in person. She reads my blog. Much of my current muck is not blogged. She told me that God has been prompting her to pray for me for the last two weeks. She knows that something is going on in my life, but she doesn't know what. So she wanted me to know that she is praying for me. Can you say, "Big fat hug from my Daddy"?? That He cares so much about me that He would lay my struggles onto a sister in Christ (who I am guessing knows just how to pray for me even though she doesn't know - you know?)- HEY! Was that funny? A little maybe.
Advice: Don't shy away from the work, if God brings you to it, He'll bring you through it. My son gave me this Scripture - Genesis 50:20, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done..." not full verse (that's his little notation :0) *sigh* dreamy.
Our ladies Bible study will not meet the week following Easter so, in worship, we are focusing on the resurrection a little bit early (according to the calendar year). Here is what we will be lifting up tomorrow:
