Following God 101

In our study of Psalm 1, we find that believers are blessed—or fulfilled—when they avoid bad influences (verse 1) and delight and meditate on God's Word (verse 2). More than commands of what to avoid and what to do, Psalm 1 is a proclamation of encouragement or benediction to the believer.

The believer's walk with God is eternal but also daily. It is a walk of fellowship that is possible not by our own doing but rather by God's Holy Spirit at work in our lives. The world does not encourage us to spend time in God's Word. Instead, it will provide us with many alternatives, some of which are clearly wrong (council of the wicked, way of sinners, seat of scoffers) and others which, while not inherently bad, will keep us from the Word.

Our choices can limit the blessing that this Psalm proclaims. God wants the very best for His own. How we choose to spend our time can limit the full blessing that God would otherwise have for us or open our hearts to the very best.