God's blessings follow you and await you at every turn: when you don't follow the advice of those who delight in wicked schemes, when you avoid sin's highways, when judgement and sarcasm beckon you, but you refuse. For you, the Eternal's word is your happiness. It's our focus from dusk to dawn. You are like a tree, planted by flowing cool streams of water that never run dry. Your fruit ripens in its times; your leaves never fade or curl in the summer sun. No matter what you do, you prosper.
For those who sin, the story is different. They are like a fallen husk of wheat, tossed by an open wind, left deserted and alone. In the end the wicked fall in judgement; the guilty will be separated from the innocent. Their road suddenly will end in death, yet the journey of the righteous has been charted by the Eternal.
Observation
God gives several promises to both the righteous and wicked alike. His word is filled with these promises. But Psalm one seems to take all those promises and condense it down to this short black and white picture.
God say's it this way "make Me your center, make Me your happiness, and here is what you can count on..."
Here is what He promises to those who are for Him:
1. His blessings will follow you
2. His blessings wait for you to arrive
3. You will not be shaken
4. You will always be instant to what God wants to do in you and through you. God says your fruit will ripen at the right time. So there will be times when you or others will not see a specific fruit in your life, but God will ripen that fruit in its specific season.
5. You never fade, you just get brighter and brighter. I can think of several older Christians who are a bright light to me. They are proof of this promise!
6. No matter what you do, you will prosper. That's a pretty amazing promise. We an see the same promise in Romans 8:28, God is working all things together for good for those who love Him (have made Him the center) and have been called according to His purpose.
7. God will chart your journey. You don't have to worry about figuring out the next step because God has the map; He knows. When you think of writing your story, whose hand would you like on the pen? I can think of no one greater than the sovereign God of the universe!
Application
Psalm 1 is great encouragement to stay in God's word and continue seeking His face. Several years ago I chose to make Christ the center of my life. Is He? Well there are certainly areas where I wonder if He truly is, but this scripture reminds me that His promise is sure and that the areas where I doubt He is the center because I struggle so, are the ones where the fruit has not ripened yet.
I love the beginning where it says that God's blessings follow me and wait for me. This translation can only be found in the Voice, the other versions say "blessed is". Both scriptures mean the same thing, but the Voice paints a beautiful picture of what God is doing for me everyday. The truth is I rarely turn around to recall blessings, and I'm not expectant for the blessings are to come my way tomorrow. But I should be. A great way for me to apply this specific portion of scripture is to make a list of blessings at the end of every day, then praying each morning that God open my eyes to the blessings He has waiting for me in the day, and in all of that THANK HIM!
Prayer
Father, what sweet encouragement! Thank You for yesterday and today's blessings. Thank You for charting my course, for being the living water that nourishes my soul. Thank You for prospering me and making my light grow brighter and brighter. Thank You for giving me a passion for Your word. I am wicked without You, but Your robe of righteousness covers me. I Love You!
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