Fresh Start Devotionals

Blessed! Psalm 1:1–6 NASB “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! [2] But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. [3] And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. [4] The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. [5] Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. [6] For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.” When I was a young boy, our church required that we memorize this passage of scripture before we could join the boy’s club at the church. It was our rite of passage. I worked hard to memorize it and I’m glad I did, in fact, only two things linger in my memory from that club—the memory of being terrified, sitting around a campfire at an overnight camp out, listening to other boys tell spooky stories, and this passage of scripture. It has been a friend of mine since then. There are times, to this day that the rhythmic verses swim through my mind reminding me of what it really means to be a blessed man. I’m reminded, that in many ways, being blessed is a choice—a choice not to listen to the counsel of the wicked or to be a stumbling block to others or be a know—it-all on the sidelines of life criticizing others. Instead, to be blessed, I must delight in God’s word and marinate in it daily. As I meditate on these verses, I’m reminded that blessing is not so much a status or a destination; rather it is a journey—a lifestyle. It is a choice to live life under the umbrella of God’s blessing—a choice to follow His ways and seek His kingdom. It is an openness to be used of God whether that decision makes life easier or harder isn’t the issue—being blessed is. Of course the alternative isn’t pretty. Who wants to be a withering leaf or dry chaff blown by the wind? The way of the blessed man—the righteous man is straight and sure. It leads to a desirable destination—a way the Lord knows and has prepared. Enjoy the journey! Jim L. Wilson, Fresh Start Devotionals (Fresno, CA: Willow City Press, 2009).