February 3, 2011
Words cannot adequately convey what Psalm 1 means to my husband and me.
In July of '07, Jane (Her Name Was Jane) asked me to read Psalm 150 - a Psalm entirely about Praise; and Psalm 140 - A Psalm of Protection. In September of '07, Jane spoke and told me to read Isaiah 30. Then in January of '08, after months of not speaking and being totally unresponsive, Jane spoke again. I was reading Psalm 1 to her when she stopped me and asked if I had this Psalm memorized. I told her no. Jane then asked, "is your sister was working on it?" I told her I didn't know, but I didn't think so. Jane knew nothing about "the storm" or that I had a sister. Then Jane feebly pointed to me and then to herself and said, "You and I ... we will work on it together."
Direct and personal words even though Jane had no idea who I was or the situation we were facing. Needless to say, my husband and I memorized Psalm 1 and it is one of the scriptures we pray almost daily.
Psalm 150 - Praise
Psalm 140 - Protection
Isaiah 30 - Punishment or Provision
Psalm 1 - Path
Psalm 1 is so simple. It is just fifteen lines, yet those fifteen lines say it all. God offers us two different paths to travel. Truth and righteousness—or—Lies and wickedness. God provides and protects those who choose to believe and live His Truth. But those who reject God's Truth, miss out on His blessings and only get what they can provide themselves: a life which is fleeting, temporal, with earthly "rewards" only. They do not have God's protection; they have God's rejection. They do not receive God's rewards; they receive God's punishment. Stability comes from following God's way. Anxiety is the result if you choose man's way. The person who follows God's way has peace, contentment, stability, and security. The person who chooses to reject God's ways and stubbornly chooses their own way has fear, anxiety, dissatisfaction, insecurity, a drive for perfection and much more because there is a God-given void in their life. A God-given void that can only be filled when we surrender to Him.
Psalm 2:11 - "Obey the LORD with great fear. Be happy, but tremble."
Psalm 2:12 - "...happy are those who trust him for protection."
Psalm 3:3 - "...you are my shield, my wonderful God who gives me courage."
Psalm 3:5 - "I can lie down and go to sleep, and I will wake up again, because the LORD gives me strength."
Psalm 3:6 - "...thousands of troops may surround me, but I am not afraid."
Psalm 3:7 - "...you have broken the teeth of the wicked." (Job 4:10 - "Lions may roar and growl, but when the teeth of a strong lion are broken...")
Psalm 3:8 - "The LORD can save his people..."; "From the LORD comes deliverance..." (NIV)
Deuteronomy 11:26–28 - "See, today I am letting you choose a blessing or a curse. You will be blessed IF you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today. But you will be cursed IF you disobey the commands of the LORD your God."
Deuteronomy 30:19 - "...I am offering you life or death, blessings or curses. Now choose life!"
Joshua 24:15 - "...As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
I Kings 18:21 - "How long will you not decide between two choices? If the LORD is the true God follow him!..."
Jane's notations in her Bible:
Psalm 2:8 - "Ask... and I shall give!"
Psalm 3:4 - "I cried... he heard."
Addendum: 1/3/15 ~ Two distinctly different choices. Which path will you choose? As for me and my house, we choose to serve the LORD and follow HIS path.
Next Entry: Psalm 4:1 – 6:10
Words cannot adequately convey what Psalm 1 means to my husband and me.
In July of '07, Jane (Her Name Was Jane) asked me to read Psalm 150 - a Psalm entirely about Praise; and Psalm 140 - A Psalm of Protection. In September of '07, Jane spoke and told me to read Isaiah 30. Then in January of '08, after months of not speaking and being totally unresponsive, Jane spoke again. I was reading Psalm 1 to her when she stopped me and asked if I had this Psalm memorized. I told her no. Jane then asked, "is your sister was working on it?" I told her I didn't know, but I didn't think so. Jane knew nothing about "the storm" or that I had a sister. Then Jane feebly pointed to me and then to herself and said, "You and I ... we will work on it together."
Direct and personal words even though Jane had no idea who I was or the situation we were facing. Needless to say, my husband and I memorized Psalm 1 and it is one of the scriptures we pray almost daily.
Psalm 150 - Praise
Psalm 140 - Protection
Isaiah 30 - Punishment or Provision
Psalm 1 - Path
Psalm 1 is so simple. It is just fifteen lines, yet those fifteen lines say it all. God offers us two different paths to travel. Truth and righteousness—or—Lies and wickedness. God provides and protects those who choose to believe and live His Truth. But those who reject God's Truth, miss out on His blessings and only get what they can provide themselves: a life which is fleeting, temporal, with earthly "rewards" only. They do not have God's protection; they have God's rejection. They do not receive God's rewards; they receive God's punishment. Stability comes from following God's way. Anxiety is the result if you choose man's way. The person who follows God's way has peace, contentment, stability, and security. The person who chooses to reject God's ways and stubbornly chooses their own way has fear, anxiety, dissatisfaction, insecurity, a drive for perfection and much more because there is a God-given void in their life. A God-given void that can only be filled when we surrender to Him.
Psalm 2:11 - "Obey the LORD with great fear. Be happy, but tremble."
Psalm 2:12 - "...happy are those who trust him for protection."
Psalm 3:3 - "...you are my shield, my wonderful God who gives me courage."
Psalm 3:5 - "I can lie down and go to sleep, and I will wake up again, because the LORD gives me strength."
Psalm 3:6 - "...thousands of troops may surround me, but I am not afraid."
Psalm 3:7 - "...you have broken the teeth of the wicked." (Job 4:10 - "Lions may roar and growl, but when the teeth of a strong lion are broken...")
Psalm 3:8 - "The LORD can save his people..."; "From the LORD comes deliverance..." (NIV)
"God has set before you two choices. If you want the LORD to protect you, provide for you, and nourish you, why pursue the path that leads to judgment?" ~ From Life LessonDeuteronomy 4:29 - "But even there you can look for the LORD your God, and you will find him if you look for him with your whole being."
Deuteronomy 11:26–28 - "See, today I am letting you choose a blessing or a curse. You will be blessed IF you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today. But you will be cursed IF you disobey the commands of the LORD your God."
Deuteronomy 30:19 - "...I am offering you life or death, blessings or curses. Now choose life!"
Joshua 24:15 - "...As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
I Kings 18:21 - "How long will you not decide between two choices? If the LORD is the true God follow him!..."
Jane's notations in her Bible:
Psalm 2:8 - "Ask... and I shall give!"
Psalm 3:4 - "I cried... he heard."
Addendum: 1/3/15 ~ Two distinctly different choices. Which path will you choose? As for me and my house, we choose to serve the LORD and follow HIS path.
Next Entry: Psalm 4:1 – 6:10
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