The weekend Psalm
Read Psalm 1 from the World English Bible
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This is a Wisdom/Teaching Psalm,
The Big Idea
Are you going through a dry spell? It could be that the company you keep is weakening your roots. God's people choose all of their relationships wisely. In verse 1 of this Psalm, the blessed man avoids the common problem of getting more and more comfortable with sin. The progression is clear: First you walk its paths, then you stand still, and finally, you wind up sitting in it. Choose your friends wisely.
God is the cure. When you find yourself anchored in Him, drawing nourishment by having your roots in God, you will be fresh, fruitful, and beneficial to others. In contrast, this Psalm teaches that roots anywhere else will leave you dry, lifeless, and like chaff. Chaff is the dusty, dry remnant left over when wheat is prepared for making flour.
This Psalm shows two paths of life, and the present and ultimate outcome of those choices. One man chooses the way of pleasing other people and himself; the other chooses to live for God. Eventually, the God-centered life will flourish. A life focused on anything else will wither.
Meditation
I can't tell you if you are dry or not. Chances are, though, you know. Read through this Psalm, and consider your own life. Are you alive, fresh, green, and rooted in God? Or is your life dry, dusty, and choking. Be honest--that's where repentance starts, and where real life can begin.
Seek to put your roots down deep into Jesus Christ. He is the Living Water. He is your source. Take time this weekend to focus on planting yourself "by streams of water." Take time to pray for someone you care about who needs that living water in their own life.
Praying With This Psalm
You can pray scripture prayers for yourself or for others.
- Father God, I ask that you set _________ free from wicked counsel. Protect ________ from getting comfortable around people and situations that lead them to doubt your goodness or scoff at your mercies.
- I pray, Father, that you will plant ________ by streams of living water. May _______ live a life that is fruitful, pleasing to you, and refreshing to others.
- If there are areas of ________'s life that are dry and chaff-like, I pray that you will show that, and give ________ a desire to have roots in you, Lord.
- Lord God, I thank you that the righteous can stand before you. Make that true of ______'s life. May _______ know your grace and your leading: May you know his/her way and watch over him/her.
Related Scriptures and Scripture Prayers
- John 4:7-14--Jesus is the Living Water.
Lord Jesus, let ____ find all satisfaction and contentment in you. Everything else we seek just makes us dry and thirsty. Only you can quench _____'s thirst. - Col 2:6-7 -- Be Rooted in Jesus Christ.
Lord Jesus, help ____ to walk in you, to be rooted in you, and to be established in the faith. Help ____ to live that out with gratitude for you and your mercy. - John 15:5 -- Apart from Jesus, we cannot live fruitful lives.
Lord Jesus, help _____ to abide in you. Without that, life is fruitless. Help _____ to be aware of our human limitations, and our pride. Remind ____ that apart from you, he/she can do nothing, but that with you, _____ can bear fruit. Help _____ to understand what that means.
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