Psalm 1:

—

Blessed is the man,

who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

or stand in the way of sinners,

or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

Not so the wicked!

They are like chaff

that the wind blows away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement,

nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

—

Blessed is the man

who does not walk in the counsel of wicked,

or stand in the way of sinners,

or sit in the seat of mockers-

Father, God; You have established a way that is good. You have designed and created a way that gives LIFE, and does not rob it. Your way of life breathes peace, relief and freedom. Anything else breeds contempt, jealousy, lust, insecurity- in short, not-life. Death. Father I desire to LIVE. Keep me from temptation and deliver me from evil, that I might LIVE, and not be dead.

***

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

Father, turn my heart to your words. You are plainly visible to the one who looks in to see you. Remove my agendas. Remove my ambitions. Remove all the veils that keep me from experiencing you in your words. I desire to know your language. I desire to lean on you, and know you as ‘papa’, not just “Father.”

***

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

Almighty God; I desire to be the person you made me to be. I desire to do what you purposed me to do! You have planted me near your stream- given me your word. Now I draw near to drink up your word. I ask that you use it to nourish me, and grow me. Make me healthy on the inside. Make my leaves green on the outside, looking beautiful, and spreading health. Make my fruit heavy and prolific. May I produce the fruits that you have planted me to produce. You have grafted me into your tree- make me a fountain of your fruit.

Help me, God, to trust in your timing. I desire fruit now. I ask you for fruit now. But I must wait for you to open the buds, to feed the blossoms. To bring the bees and add to the pollens, that the fruit is perfect and good. God, feed me, rest me, pollinate me, and harvest the fruit!

***

Not so the wicked!

They are like chaff

that the wind blows away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement,

nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

Righteous God- no one who plants desires to see waste among His produce. God I plead that my life would be one that is fruitful in a satisfying way. I thank you that you have created a path in Jesus for me to be acceptable in your presence. May I serve as a light and a path, that those around me can come to stand in the judgement along with Jesus.

Teach me to see wickedness in my life, and to be happy and satisfied to watch it blow away, separating itself from the good things of my life. Teach me to hand all things up to you, and allow you to separate the fruit you desire to keep from that which you do not.

***

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Holy God, you watch over the righteous and the wicked. Thank you for your wisdom, care and provision. Thank you God for the promises you have made, and kept to restore the ways of LIFE that you designed in the beginning. Thank you God that You care for that which You have made and that you are destroying wickedness and death, and each heartbeat brings us closer to the day when the final victory is won. Amen.