How to Flourish Permanently – Psalm 1

A text – Psalm 1

1:1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;
1:2 but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night.
1:3 They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.
1:4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
1:5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
1:6 for the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.


A reflection:

Psalm 1 is brief. It tells us that there is one way toward delight and prosperity: it is to connect to the Lord, who is eternal and will connect your life to the eternal, too.

The believer doesn’t follow the path of non-believers. She delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night, and so she blooms like a beautiful fruit tree. It is as if her roots are in God and they are perpetually watered, so she flourishes. Since God is permanent, she will blossom permanently.

Everyone else just blows away, since they not connected to the eternal, to the water source, to the firm earth – in short, to the Lord.

This tiny little passage makes me want to read scripture a little every single day, connecting to my God and being watered and nurtured by God’s hand. It makes me want a spiritual discipline that gives me time and space to appreciate (and even notice!) my nurture from God every day. Does it have this effect on you, too? Some of the things I spend time on do seem to be blown away like chaff and yield no good for anyone. Why not invest my very self in something eternal? If I do, the psalm says, the Lord will watch over my way; I will have a right relationship with the Lord.

However you decide to do it, make time for God every day, just a little time, and you’ll connect to the eternal.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for being our creator. Thank you for wanting us to be connected to you. Nurture our souls when we do turn to you to meditate on your law or consider your handiwork in the universe. Let us know we are loved, and help us to hear and love you. Amen.