Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
To My Beloved Daughters in Him....
What is the secret of the Christian life...the secret of happiness? Our God tells us right here in Psalm 1. Blessed is the man...or happy is the man whose delight is in the law of His God and who meditates in it day and night. The word meditate speaks to what a cow does after grazing all day. She chews her cud over and over again...extracting every nutrient. We are to do the same with the word of God...we are to ponder it and extract all we can from it. Read on...
This man who abides in the word of God will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water...are you seeing that picture. This tree will never lack for anything. The leaves of this tree will not wither. It will bring forth fruit in its season..and whatever this man does shall prosper.
So often in my Christian life I have looked at all that "other" believers do "for God." I get trapped into thinking that it is my "doing" that my God cares about. Ha! My God does not need me for anything. He uses me in His plan as a blessing to me...I am privileged to be a part of it. Here is the thing though when I look back over the last 18 years of walking with Him. Here is what I see. My job was abiding. Abiding is what brought the fruit and I can take credit for none of it. On the day of salvation my God gave me an "extreme" hunger for His word...so much so that I could not put it down. I slept with my bible, ate with my bible, worked with my bible and relaxed with my bible. This really has not diminished over time. A love for His word in my heart is a daily prayer...And as in everything else, He has been faithful! My fruit came from spending time with Him and His word. My job was to abide...He did the rest. It was the abiding part...you know....the sitting in my chair and studying His word or the meditating on a verse while I waited for the light to change...it was that part that brought the fruit. Nothing about it was me...it was all Him!
Here are three words of advice found several times in Isaiah that would change hearts all over the world if heeded. "Behold, My Servant!" How was my heart changed the first time...by looking up by faith and beholding Jesus, God's Son, the One who was willing to go to the cross and die for me while I was still dead in trespasses and sins. The One who lives to make intercession for me. How is my heart changed now...how is it that I become more like Him...THE SAME WAY...by looking up by faith, surrendering to Him and allowing His grace to pour down like rain and perform beautiful miracles in my heart just as He did at my first cry!
2 Corinthians 3:18: But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
The word "behold" means to gaze, to look steadily at. When I look steadily into the face of Jesus and keep my eyes off people who disappoint and circumstances that distract I am at peace (Isa 26:3)
I am changed and become more like Him. Beloved, allow His word to penetrate your heart...it is alive, living and powerful....and okay sometimes very sharp. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind with the Word of God. This is your job...and He gives you the grace to do it....all the rest will be added. God promises.
Love
Mom
