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Delight in God’s Presence in the New Year
Delight yourself in singing along with the
psalmist and plant your roots deep in the nourishing living water of God’s Word
.
When we apply God’s wisdom, the fruit – the results – we bear will be good and will receive God’s approval. Just as a tree soaks up water and bears luscious fruit, we are to soak up God’s Word and produce actions and attitudes that honor him. To achieve anything worthwhile, we must have God’s Word in our hearts. Let your imagination soar with the grandeur, majesty, wisdom and unsurpassed love of God.
thenivbible.com
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 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.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.”
— Psalm 1:1-6
What gives you delight?
You know, that sense of unparalleled joy,
that amazing degree of enjoyment and pleasure, even to the point of rapture.
That’s how the dictionary defines delight.
But how do you define delight?
Maybe you delight in running through
rain-washed streets in the early morning or hiking in the mountains on a sunny
autumn day.
Maybe your delight is playing games or
listening to music.
The psalmist defines delight as immersing
oneself in the law of the Lord.
He sings of the
person who finds joy in listening to God’s voice in Scripture, who discovers
with pleasure “the riches of the wisdom
and knowledge of God” (Romans
11:33).
This “law
of the LORD” refers to all of Scripture.
The more we know of the whole scope of
God’s Word, the more resources we will have to guide us in our daily decisions.
Meditating on and understanding God’s Word
are the first steps toward applying it to your everyday life.
“Meditates” means spending
time reading, thinking, marking, and reviewing what we have read.
It means asking how we must change and grow
so we will live as God wants.
And what is the result of this constant
delight in God’s Word?
One becomes like a tree planted by a river.
You’ve seen them — tall, vital trees,
well-watered because they are rooted deep in the stream.
This tree is resplendent with foliage in
rich shades of green. It’s a tree that can withstand biting frost, harsh winds
and blazing sun.
The more we delight in God’s presence, the
more fruitful we will be.
We must engage and welcome unbelievers if
we are to witness to them, but we must not adopt their sinful behavior and
scornful sarcasm.
If you want despair, spend time with cynics
and critics; if you want God’s joy, spend time with those who love God, his
Word, and his people.
A person who delights in God’s Word will
prosper and have integrity, will speak truthfully and exhibit stability and
strength.
This is the person who will reflect the
face of God like a river reflects the sun in dappled waves. This one is truly
blessed.
The phrase “whatever they do prospers” does not mean that God’s people have
immunity from failure or difficulties.
Nor does it guarantee health, wealth, or
happiness. What the Bible means by prosperity is this: When we apply God’s
wisdom, the fruit – the results or by-products – we bear will be good and will
receive God’s approval.
Just as a tree soaks up water and bears
luscious fruit, we are to soak up God’s Word and produce actions and attitudes
that honor him.
What joy to know that God is watching the
paths we walk each day.
We may feel like he keeps his eye on us to
criticize us for what we do wrong along the way, but this is not true.
God sees us with loving eyes, protecting
us, caring for us, and keeping us from stumbling on the journey (Psalm 121:3-5).
Look for signs of his care for you today,
and bask in the thought that he is guiding and helping you on your daily
journey.
Let your imagination soar with the
grandeur, majesty, wisdom and unsurpassed love of God.
You will see him as a rock, a fortress, a
strong tower, a nurturing mother and so much more.
He rides on the wind and shows himself in
the starry heavens.
Delight yourself in singing along with the
psalmist and plant your roots deep in the nourishing living water of God’s
Word.
Content drawn from the NIV Woman’s Study Bible. and the NIV Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition.
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https://www.thenivbible.com/blog/psalm-1-delight-in-gods-presence/
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