What better way to start the new year then with a quick reflection on Psalm 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, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who meditates on his law both day and night."
The opening verse of the Psalms is a resounding call to intentional living. A measured reminder for believers on the path to blessing: deliberately distancing ourselves from ungodly influences and finding joy in the wisdom of the Lord.
"That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither."
An image of stability, vitality, and abundance. A Christian, being rooted in God’s word, can live a life of stability and becomes a source of help and testimony for others. The highs and lows of life will still be there but, with mindful living, we can weather them because the strength of the roots we have built has created a foundation that is not easily uprooted.
"Not so the wicked; they are like chaff that the wind blows away."
In these verses a clear contrast is drawn between the blessed and the wicked. While the righteous are firmly grounded, the wicked are likened to chaff – light and easily scattered by the wind. The fleeting nature of worldly pursuits stands in stark contrast to the enduring blessings of a life built on a Biblical foundation.
As I read through this chapter, it inspired me to evaluate my own paths as I found myself at the start of a new year. Am I delighting in the wisdom found in His word? Do I study or am I checking a box? Am I living with eternity’s values in view or living focused on the world around me? May we each take advantage of the opportunity that a new year brings and make a concentrated effort to live intentionally, rooted in God’s wisdom and stabilized by the promises found in His word so that our testimony touches those around us in positive ways.
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