A Prayer to Meditate on God's Word
By Laura Bailey
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.” - Psalms 1:1-2, NIV
This summer, our pastor encouraged our church to read the Psalms together. At first, I was disappointed we wouldn't be studying one of the Bible's more "theologically deeper" books. Yet, as I opened my reading plan and turned to the first Psalm, the Holy Spirit immediately pricked my heart.
The opening verse of Psalms is packed with so much Truth; its message is straightforward, timeless, and jam-packed with theology for Christians. Largely credited as written by King David, this Psalm reminds us anyone who doesn't allow themselves to be swayed by worldly influences is blessed. Blessings continually come to those who choose to walk in the way of the Lord, disassociate from ungodly influences, and don't engage in foolish talk.
Living a righteous life has always been difficult. Every day we must choose which master we will surrender to, ourselves or God. There is a spiritual battle that wages all around us, and each day is a fight to pursue holiness. Psalm One gives instructions to flee temptation. Instead, we should delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on it day and night. The Hebrew word for delight in this text means "to bend." This verse tells us the blessed person bends to God's will. Instead of rigidly following their own path, the righteous are flexible and willing to allow the Lord and His laws to direct their paths. They don't simply read Scripture; they put its truths into practice, allowing their lives to be walking testimonies to the Gospel.
As believers, we meditate on God's word. What do you think of when you think about meditating? I always thought this had to happen in a dark, quiet room, blocking off hours to sit and pray to God. But that's not what this verse is implying. Most of us don't have the margin to meditate like this. Thankfully, biblical mediation means we fill our minds with Scripture so God's words permeate our thoughts as we go about our lives. While we sit at the traffic light, we think about God's goodness. As we wait in the check-out line, we recall the fruits of the spirit. When cooking dinner, we ponder what it means to humble ourselves. Meditating on God's words is a daily commitment to renewing our minds, conforming our thoughts and desires to the Lord, and living a life influenced by biblical truth.
Don't make the same mistake as me, discounting the depth of the Psalms because of the emotional emphasis or conversational tone.; the Psalms are a battle cry for believers living in a fallen world. If you, like me, often breeze through the Psalms, let me encourage you to meditate on this book as you seek to reject the world's ways and hide God's words in your heart.
Let's pray:
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us the Bible so we can learn your laws and more about You. Thank you for instructing us on living our lives and sharing your many attributes, inviting us into a personal relationship with you. We ask that you guard our hearts and help us flee temptation, clinging to Your Truth.
Let us not be fooled; we are incapable of dabbling in sin; let us not fall for the enemy's lies. We ask that when we do fall short, please forgive us. Grant us mercy when we don't deserve it, and extend us grace. Thank You for giving the book of Psalms to guide and direct our lives. May we hold each word close, along with every word in the Scriptures. We love You, Lord; thank You for your many blessings. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Tinnakorn Jorruang
She lives in Upstate South Carolina with her husband and three young girls, where she serves as director of women's ministries at her church. Her passion is teaching the Bible to women, equipping them to live with an eternal perspective. Invite Laura to speak at your next event or learn more: www.LauraRBailey.com
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Originally published Friday, 04 August 2023.
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