Journal - Joy And Delight - wk14

DEVO
Psalm 1:1-3

In today’s devotion, we are looking at Psalm 1, verses 1-3. Open your Bible, and grab your journal, or journal page and something to write with.

Psalm 1:1-3 (NLT)
1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.


Oh, the joy. O the joy of those who live life God’s way. Oh, the joy of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. This phrase, stand around with sinners, it does not mean to be in the presence of sinners. The phrase means “cannot live in that lifestyle, in their lifestyle.” It can be said, Oh, the joys of those who do not live in the lifestyle of the ungodly. And to join in with mockers means to be completely identified with the lifestyle of those who mock God. Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or join in the lifestyle of the ungodly, or who are completely identified with those who mock God.

Verse 2 says, But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. Guys, a real, daily interactive relationship with God in his Word and with the Holy Spirit’s leading brings peace, and joy, and strength to our lives. Meditating on God’s Word means to be immersed into it, to sink into it, to chew on it, to make God’s Word a regular part of our thinking and our decisions. Meditating on God’s Word, interacting with God in his Word and by his Spirit, day and night, brings a peace, and a delight to our lives with God that is one hundred and eighty degrees opposite of what living the life of the ungodly world brings into our lives.

And then, verse 3 says, They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. And in our daily relationship with God, interacting with him in his Word and being led by his Spirit, our roots will grow deeper down into the life of God every day. Every day, God’s Word and God’s presence waters our lives and causes our roots to grow deeper and deeper, strengthening our life in Christ for every season we will face. The life of Jesus Christ in us bears fruit in each season of our lives. In every season of life, as we are nourished by our daily relationship with God, in his Word, and by his Spirit, in each season of our life God will bring real, lasting fruit.

In every season, in the easy season, and in the hard season, and in the season that you are in right now, your daily relationship with the Lord in God’s Word and with the Holy Spirit in every season, including the one you’re in right now, your roots will grow deeper, and deeper, and deeper into the love and the life of Jesus Christ. And he will bring real, lasting fruit in and through your life.

And as the end of verse 3 says, [Your] leaves will never wither, and [you will] prosper in all [you] do. The word “prosper” means “to make steady, favorable progress.” It means “to thrive,” “to live well.” It’s not necessarily connected to money; but instead, it’s referring to doing well in all that you do. The leaves of your life will never wither, and you will do well; you will thrive in all that you do because you are being fed day and night by the life-giving Word of God and being led by the Holy Spirit. And in that real and personal daily relationship with the Lord, you will do well in whatever season you are in or will be in. And in the areas of life that matter most, you will thrive.

Psalm 1:1-3 (NLT)
1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.


Let’s pray together.

Heavenly Father, please show us the truth of your Word in these verses, Lord. Please speak to us. Lord, please speak to us through these verses and by your Holy Spirit for our lives today. Please lead us into the truth of these verses as they apply to our life today, in your life-giving name, Jesus, amen.

If you using our “Alone With God Devotion Journal,” don’t stop here. But take a few minutes to work through the journal page using these verses. Here’s how it works.

First, in the Alone With God Journal,” page under “What is God Saying?” just write out these verses or the key portions or phrases of these verses. Write them out in your own words. Just write simply what God is saying here. Write it in your own words, and as you write, think carefully about every word you’re writing so that you can let these verses sink into your heart.

And then, under “How Does it Apply?” write specifically how these verses apply to your life today. Ask yourself, what was the Holy Spirit specifically impressing on me as I was meditating on these verses today? And then, just right that down.

And then, under “How Will You Respond?” write what action you will take based on what God has spoken in these verses. Wrestle a bit with God on how he is calling you to respond. It may be small, and it may be large. But either way, write down what God is calling you to do in response to these verses today.

And finally, write a short “Prayer” to God based on your interaction with him, based on your time alone with him today. Ask him, in your prayer, to draw you into a deeper and deeper relationship with himself where these verses will be more and more true in your life.

Remember, you can order the Alone With God Devotion Journal or download the journal page at wordbymail.com. And you can text (or call) us for any reason, especially for prayer, at 877-790-9673. We love to pray with you.

I pray that your time alone with God would bless you and carry you throughout your day.