Psalm 1

Ps 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
:2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.
:3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season,
:4 The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
:5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
:6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
In the first of the Psalms we are immediately faced with two choices. To go the way of the righteous or the way of the wicked. What choice will you make? This way or your way? There are really only 2 options.
The opening word of this Psalm is a call to blessing. If you want a blessed life you must make a choice to not do certain things.
1. Don't think like people who have no time for God.
2. Don't act like the people around you who are going their own way.
3. Don't link your life to people who will pull you away from God.
4. Don't speak like people without God in their life.
Wise people focus on God's word. They meditate on His promises and instructions for living. While standing in long lines at the grocery checkout (I will face this today), they think about God's abundant provision of daily food. That can be difficult when you are tired and the lines are long, can't it? When they are faced with difficult decisions, wise people seek God's direction from His word. They memorize scripture so it is always available even when a bible isn't.
Those who choose to walk through life without God are easily blown about by the wind. They may stand fine right now among sinners, but when God evaluates their life they will lose.
Psalm 1 is the gateway to the other psalms. It gives us some principles that will help us to incorporate the rest into our lives.
1. We are encouraged to think of the psalms as providing God's guidance and wisdom.
2. We are challenged to think carefully, to meditate, on what we learn in these psalms. A quick glance will not give us enough time to pull out the riches God has for us here.
3. How we respond to each message will determine our ultimate destiny. Our obedience or lack of obedience will demonstrate whether we are on the right or wrong road.
4. We are confronted with the fact that God's ultimate purpose for us as His children is that we are blessed, not just in heaven some day, but every day in the here and now.

Plans

Proverbs 16:9 The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

God constantly knows your thoughts. Something to think about isn't it? This proverb deals with the plans we make in our mind. Ever feel like you have everything planned out in your thoughts and then feel like as you go through the day or situation that God laughs? Or is that just me?

We get so caught up sometimes in planning things out the way we think they should go that we totally miss what God is doing. If we just focus completely on God, turn our thoughts and plans over to Him we will be much happier and much more peaceful.

Peace

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
I needed this badly this morning. I woke with a bad uneasy feeling and haven't been able to shake it even after prayer. Then I begin my bible study and God, being God, knew exactly what I would need on this day at this time. He didn't give me this verse yesterday or last week. It was waiting for me today. How awesome is our God??
Here is another verse from my reading today.
2 Thess 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
Peace is a free gift Jesus promised the disciples and all who would follow Him. He provides it freely. It is our responsibility to receive this gift. Will you receive this gift today?

The Future

The past cannot be different from what has actually occurred. God wants to help you make a new beginning instead, starting right where you are.  Now is the only place you can start cause it is where He has you right now.
You are capable of living joyfully in this moment. All He is has asked you to deal with is the moment you are in right now.
We find it difficult to believe the future will be any different then our present when we are in the midst of things. The future is one of those secret things that only God knows. Release it to Him. Refuse to worry aobut things you have no control over anyway. You will find what He provides for you today to be sufficient for today.
Luke 1:37 For nothing is impossible with God.

Clothing

For choosing what to put on each morning the word of God offers these suggestions. Clothe yourself with:

Col 3:12-13 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also MUST do.

Rom 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Do you trust God?

Do you trust Him here and now?

Do you feel like you are in rigorous training? You are! This adventure was chosen just for you by God. It's not your choosing. If we are honest, if it were up to us we would choose an easy path. Wouldn't we? But that isn't how we grow spiritually.

By being on this path God has chosen it encourages us to stick closer to Him. To cling more tightly to Him.

Is 50:10 Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of His servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the Name of the Lord and rely on his God.

While God says He will never give you more then you can handle, He'll often give you more than you can handle on your own so that you will have to turn to Him.

That helps build trust in Him.

Transforming Your Heart

Ez 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

We are called to come to Christ just as we are. But we can't remain as we are. We are called to become Christlike.

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

God is aware of the stony heart we come to Him with. He is the only one who can remove those parts. It will not always be painful. Most times pain will be involved. We don't like to admit it, but we are most times unwilling to give up those parts.

Many of the hard situations we find ourselves in are God's work on those stony areas of our heart.

Look to God through the tough times and thank Him for the removal of another stone. This won't stop the pain during the removal and healing process, but it will give it meaning.

Strive to look at your circumstances from a fresh perspective; God's!