“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”
Psalm 1 (KJV)
1. Don’t hang with the wrong crowd (verse 1)
Peer pressure is strong. If you are surrounded by the world, sooner of later you will act like the world. The world is our enemy. We must fight it and the temptations it promotes.
2. Meditate on the law of the Lord (verse 2)
Study God’s Word and see what He has to say to you. Obey His commands, and do the things He has asked of you. The Bible is a fountain of peace and contentment, which in turn will lead to happiness.
3. Be patient and steadfast (verse 3)
Living the Christian life is not always easy, but we must be patient and steadfast and have faith that our efforts are not in vain. The fruits of our labors will come forth in due season. Stand strong and wait patiently. It is worth it!
4. Don’t be distracted by every situation that arises (verse 4)
There are going to be troubles and trials in our lives, but we cannot run away every time one comes upon us. God will give us the strength to go through, but we must keep our eyes on Him. If we will keep our focus on God, we will be less likely to fall.
5. Look toward the prize (verse 5)
The world seems to have it all: fancy houses, fame, money. But one day, our roles will be reversed. We will receive our heavenly rewards, which far outweigh anything we could have here on earth. Don’t worry about what you are lacking here on this earth; think of what is waiting for you in heaven.
6. Be assured that the Lord knows (verse 6)
God knows every step we take, and He is here to take them with us. Just follow the path that He has set before you. He knows when our heart is broken, and He understands our tears. But we will never experience anything that He has not experienced for Himself. He understands, and in that understanding, we can find comfort.
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If I may, can I add a 7th- serve others. In so doing, you are serving the Lord and not self. This is a great blow to the enemy because he loves vanity and conceit. Much blessings come from doing for others. Wise and timely words in a difficult world.