Skip to main content

Where is your path heading? (Part 1 of 2)

I'm sure many of you are like me and at some point you've been driving down the road when all of a sudden, your GPS goes out and the line showing you where to turn just stops leaving you forced to make a decision as to which way to turn?  The choice you make, may lead you straight to where you want to go.  Or it may lead you on a long costly detour possibly even preventing you from reaching your destination.  Our life is much like a road that we are journeying along with twists and turns, and the choices we make will determine where we are headed.  Psalm 1 tells us about two very different paths with two very different destinations.

Psalm 1:1-3 - "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, not sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.  In all that he does, he prospers."

This blessed, happy, joyful, man does NOT walk with ungodly people overhearing their advice, nor does he stand in the pathway and meeting places of sinners, nor does he sit in the company of those who mock truth.  Look at the degenerating pathway these actions can lead you down as they go from bad to worse.  This does not mean that a blessed man avoids sinners altogether, rather that he does not closely associate with them.  We've all heard the saying, "If you lay with dogs, you're going to get fleas."  Well if you only pet the dog, you're a lot less likely to get fleas than if you curl up inside his doghouse.  We will be around sinners, but we must surround ourselves with Christ-like people if we want to be blessed.

So what does the blessed man do?  He delights in the Lord's law (instruction).  Now I'm sure that hardly any of us like receiving instructions.  But what if it was someone we really wanted to hear from.  Like for me if it was one of the Spartan or Ninja Warrior greats?  Or for some people a celebrity off Dancing With The Stars or The Voice?  When we love and admire the instructor, we become much more enthralled in what they have to say don't we?  The blessed man loves God's instruction in His Word the Bible that way.  He longs for the life improving advice and counsel found inside this book.

He also meditates on His Word "day and night."  Meditation here isn't some weird religion where you say a bunch of "ooohhmmmmms" with weird music and poses.  It's a word translated in Isaiah 31 referring to a lioness "meditating" over her prey.  She's growling over it, announcing that this life giving substance is hers.  Then she begins to consume it and be strengthened.  This is what happens to the blessed man as he reads and meditates on God's Word regularly.

Then we see that the blessed man is like a tree planted by streams of water.  This is significant because in this region of Israel there were wet and dry seasons.  If trees were unable to survive the dry season, they died.  But this tree was planted so that it had a consistent water supply allowing it to grow and be nourished constantly.  In your spiritual life, where are you planted?  Do you read God's word regularly, pray regularly, attend a small group and church regularly?  Or is the only time you seem to grow at a concert, camp, or revival?  Don't put yourself in a position to where you're hanging on to life in hope of rain, stay near the waters so that you can constantly grow in Christ.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

2020 is Hindsight...Finally!

Wow, what a year! 2020 could literally be an entire decade, maybe more, of history, change, and lessons rolled up into these twelve months. While many aspects of 2020 were kind of sucky and we would like to forget them, it will certainly be a year to remember. And it will be enlightening when this year is looked back on in 10, 25, or 50 years to be discussed. I wonder if we'll seem like geniuses or idiots? Probably both to some extent! While there is so much that I could consider and analyze about this year, I'll try to break some of it down into four dimensions - Physical, Spiritual, Mental, and Social/Emotional. These are events and happenings from my world and perspective and I'm trying to be open in sharing and would love to hear from others on events you found most transforming. Physical When COVID cause gyms to close, that messed me up. Our town and state were late to be hit with severe cases and therefore later than many across the country to close up shop. I'm n

2020 Books

  I mentioned previously on Facebook that I'd share the books I've read in 2020 in case anyone is looking for a new read. Plus I figure this post can serve as one for friends to share some that they've enjoyed this past year as well. How to Win Friends and Influence People - Andrew Carnegie. This is a good book about personal development, relationships, etc. Vertical Marriage - Dave & Ann Wilson. Based on the title, obviously this was a book on marriages. While you'll see a few others on this list, this one was one of my favorites. How to Get Promoted - Anthony Park. Sorry boss! The worst part is I read this AFTER my annual review lol. It is good for people just getting their career started or working in larger corporations where you can get lost in the shuffle. The Power of Positive Thinking - Norman Vincent Peale. Great book on personal development. Leadership in Turbulent Times - Doris Kearns Goodwin. This book chronicles the life of 4 presidents, Lincol

First Blog

It's hard to decide what you want to write in your first blog since first impressions are so important.  So I figured I would start with the main reason the Brittnee and I decided to start a blog (if the name hasn't given it away) and that is the upcoming birth of our first child.  The sex hasn't been determined yet so for now it is referred to as ThomAva, a combination of the names we have selected.  So far so good with everything though as our little one gave us a thumbs up at our last ultra sound. She has also convinced me to buy a nice (female code word for expensive) camera so I'm sure there will be many more higher quality photos to come.   I always said that my, Kat's, and Jordan's childhood could have been a reality show before reality shows were cool so I look forward to using this blog to share and remember both new and old family stories.  And to hopefully share with others the blessings that God has given me over the years and as a way to wit