The Psalms are known as wisdom literature because they are full of wise counsel and instruction. The lyrics of many worship songs are taken from the Psalms, and they bring life, hope and encouragement. Internalizing their truths can change your life and your soul. David penned the words of Psalm 1 which contrasts two ways of living. One way centers on loving God, his laws and meditating on them regularly. This leads to blessings, vitality, and security. It is good for your soul. In contrast, the other way involves living like the world without God which leads to unhappiness and ultimate destruction of the soul.

David describes the person who follows God as one who is like a strong tree planted by streams of water. This tree yields fruit in season. However, the person who doesn’t follow God is compared with chaff. Chaff is the seed covering and debris that is discarded when cleaning grain; it is blown away by the wind. It is an unwanted waste product.

If you are going to protect your soul, nourish it, and become like a tree you’ve got to stop listening to the counsel of the world, wading into sin, hanging out with people who drag you down. If you are serious about God, you must limit your exposure to people and environments that discount and dismiss God.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful…not all things build up. Christianity is not a bunch of “DO NOT” rules. As a Christian you have tremendous freedom in Christ, but you must figure out what enhances your relationship with God and what detracts from it. Although some of the people you hang with, the activities you are involved in, and the environments you frequent may not be evil, in and of themselves, they are sucking the life out of your relationship with God.

The Psalmist makes clear that when you delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on it day and night, you will be blessed. What does that mean? It simply means delighting in God’s Word, meditating on Scripture! Day and night seem like A LOT! That might cause you to quit before you start, but here’s the thing. As you read God Word and truly allow it to take root in your mind and heart, it begins to grow, and you find yourself worshipping God while you’re driving, thinking of a Scripture before a meeting, experiencing a heart of thankfulness as you go about your daily tasks. It just happens! You don’t have to be on your knees all day or have a Bible in your hand every minute. Set aside time each day for God and allow Him and His Word to do their work in you!

Scriptures: Psalm 1:1-6; 1 Corinthians 10:23; Psalm 1:1-2; Proverbs 4:20-22; Hebrews 24:25

Verses: (Ps 1:1-4) (NIV) 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 day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. (1 Co 10:23) (RSV) “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful, “but not all things build up.

Questions: As you consider your friends, activities, and environments, which ones are detracting from your relationship with God? Which ones are enhancing your relationship with God? How much time are you wasting while engaging in things that do not build you up? How much time are you spending each day focusing on God and His Word? Where do you need to reallocate your time and attention?

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for your life-giving Word that renews and restores my soul. As I absorb more and more of your Word, allow my roots to grow deep and make my life a reflection of you so that others will want to know Jesus too! In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.