The Blessed Life

God wants us to live a happy life, every day.  Over and over again we remind ourselves that this does not mean we will never experience difficulties and sorrows, but it does mean that somehow, in the middle of it all, we will know a comfort and a goodness that the companionship and help of our God gives us.  We will experience that as enough to carry us through well.

Ancient words describe what living a happy life looks like.  From Psalm 1 we read:

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.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. 

Psalm 1:1-3

So Lord, we want the blessed life, that happy life that You want us to have, and in fact, have prepared for us to have today.  We don’t want to give in to the discouragement or anger we hear around us.  There’s lots of disillusionment and lack of trust and even mocking from one political or social group to another. 

We’re not going to put our focus there but on Your good words of strength and encouragement and love for us.  We’re going to stay strong in You so we’re like that tree planted by rivers of water and we flourish no matter how difficult things are around us.  

Psalm 1 continues with these words:

Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.  

Psalm 1:4-6

So Loving God, we are going to do our best today to stay on the path where You are watching over us.  Keep us from the arrogance of thinking we know better than You, like complaining about this or that and why we don’t deserve this or how things should be better for us – whatever the way is that we express our discontent.

Help us to maintain right thinking by trusting You and relying on Your love and help today.  Amen

So a blessed life – that’s what God has for us today.  I want to be open to Him and embrace all He’s giving, don’t you?

Further Encouraging Thoughts For Today

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