“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
- Psalm 1:1-3 (KJV)
The imagery of this passage makes me think of a gently flowing stream, surrounded by trees and other plants, fully in bloom. Beautiful… calm… peaceful. How can we attain this peace and contentment in our lives? Let’s look at the passage and see…
First, do not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, stand in the way of sinners, not sit in the seat of the scornful. Basically, do not act the way that those who do not know God act. Don’t say the things they might say or do the things that they might do. Keep your focus on God and away from the sinful things of this world.
Delight in God’s law, meditate by it day and night. Make sure that even in your hectic pace of life that you take time to spend time in God’s Word each day. More than once per day if possible. Doing this is difficult at times, as the things of the day can quickly pull you in so many directions. But, keep on trying to have this special time with God and His Word. It will help to guide your thoughts and your actions each step of your way.
Why should we stay away from sin and spend time in God’s Word? You will be like a tree planted by water… you will bring forth fruit… your leaves will not wither…. and whatever you do, you will prosper. By letting God and His Word lead you each step and each breath of your day, you will be blessed. This is not to say that you will not have any more difficult times in life, but you will be better able to weather these times. In the long run, you will prosper… not wither… you will bring forth fruit… and not fade away.
If you are searching for peace and contentment in your life, reflect on this passage and spend time in the other parts of God’s wonderful Word. The Bible is there to help show you the way when you are not certain which way to go. God has given us the instruction manual; all we have to do is read it and the blessings will follow.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving me your Word, the Bible, so that I can know your will for my life. Help me to make time each day to spend time with You and Your Word. Let not the hectic pace and busy times of life distract me from you and your ways. Help me to make time every day to read your Word and follow your ways. Help others to know you better by the fruit that is produced by my following You!
In Jesus Name,
Amen.
About the author: Alicia H. Tucker is a homeschool mom of three, after having taught in public schools for over ten years. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Education with a focus on Curriculum and Technology. She is a freelance writer and is currently working on writing her first book.
