Be Brave: Week 2 - Wednesday

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. Psalm 1:1-2

Text messaging with friends and family members is one of the most common ways I communicate with them. It is quick, convenient, and allows the person I am texting with to respond when they have time. When I receive a text message, reading that text is important to me because I want to know what people have taken the time to write to me. In fact, I currently have no unread text messages. Embarrassingly, even though I make a consistent effort to read the messages that others send to me through text messaging on my phone, I still sometimes struggle to take time to read the messages God has given me in the Bible. When it becomes a challenge for me to take time to read Scripture consistently, Psalms 1 reminds me why reading my Bible is so important.

Psalms 1 begins by emphasizing the joy that those who delight in Scripture have. These are people who choose not to listen to the ungodly but instead read and listen to Scripture. These people, the Psalmist writes, "are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit in each season" (verse 3). "Their leaves never wither," he says, "and they prosper in all they do" (verse 3). In other words, the people who are constantly reading and meditating on Scripture are like a tree that has a consistent source of water. They are always growing, or producing fruit, and will be successful in their endeavors to honor God.

I do not know about you, but I want to be like a tree planted along the water. I want to be growing and successful in my pursuit to honor God with my life. Psalms 1 teaches that consistently reading, studying, and meditating on Scripture will help me live the life I want to live for God. It will do the same for you, too. If you have been reading these Daily Devotionals over the past few weeks, you have been challenged to dedicate time to reading Scripture during 2020. Have you made a conscious effort to spend more time in God's word this year? If not, will you commit to it today? God's word is refreshing, like water is to a dry tree. It can revive, teach, correct, and encourage us. As you study your Bible, God will work in your life and help you become more like Him.

Moving Toward Action

As you reflect on the gift of God's word today, be sure to read the Going Deeper section from this Devotional. As you read these verses in Psalm 1, follow this popular, well-known Bible study method:
1. Observe. What do you observe in these six verses? Are there any comparisons made? Do you see any contrasts made in the verses? Do any words stand out to you? Take note of these observations.
2. Interpret. Take note of your observations and answer this question: What do these observations mean? What do these verses teach you?
3. Apply. How can you apply what you have learned to your own life?
This method of observation, interpretation, and application will help you to gain a deeper understanding of God's word.

Going Deeper

Read Psalm 1:1-6 (NLT)