Psalm 1:3

Psalm 1:3

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Psalm 1:3 “He is like a tree planted by streams of water,”
 
[Planted, put down in one spot and kept there—it seems this is the result of a cooperation between you, Lord, and the person, as he avoids the three sins of verse 1 and then delights and meditates on your Word, he is planted in the right spot. And not by just one stream, but streams of water to put his roots down in, draw sustenance from and grow strong.
 
This is your good desire for us, Lord, that our roots go down into your Word, which brings deepening growth, maximum maturing, and spiritual strengthening. There is no end to the insights, understanding, wisdom and guidance you give us from your Word as we meditate on it. Your desires are good!]
 
“which yields its fruit in season”
 
[For the person who meditates on God’s Word day and night, when it’s time to bear fruit, you, Lord, will bring it forth. And it will be the right fruit, whether it be the fruit of the Spirit, or the fruit of praise, or the fruit of good works, or the fruit of those who come to Christ. Praise you, Lord, that you make us fruitful as we abide in you, for without you we can do nothing.]
 
“and whose leaf does not wither.”
 
[No matter what happens around this tree, it remains green—in drought, dryness, winds, dust storms or disasters, failure of the seasons, failure of other streams, this tree always has water to draw from, for its roots are deep down into the true source of vitality and strength, the Word of God.
 
Whatever difficult events come to us—weakness, hardship, insults, persecution, difficulties or loss—we can prosper, remain lush and green, bear our fruit, be a delight to those around us. This is all because of you, Lord, for you gave us your Word and draw us into it. And this is what I am experiencing right now as my wife goes through her deep depression—I am not withering up, but remaining green and bearing fruit because you are empowering me to do so.]
 
Psalm 1:3c “Whatever he does prospers.”
 
[As a result of avoiding the three sins mentioned in verse 1 and meditating on God’s Word day and night with delight, whatever situation or work you call us to do, Lord, you promise to prosper both it and us.
 
This is partly because we will be thinking as you think, acting in accord with your Word, obeying what we know to be true, and living in your power not our own. It is partly because you will act on our behalf. This is the promise I will rest on.
 
Of course, your definition of “prosper” may be different from ours. What may look like failure of our efforts, can be what you will be using to make us prosper spiritually. And from this we can prosper in other areas, like relationships that are difficult, in being light and salt, in being hope carriers to all around us.
 
One example of this is that our last church plant failed; humanly speaking this is not prospering. But we know that you can bring something better out of this death of a vision.
 
For one thing, the believers all moved to other fellowships, taking their training, maturity and drive with them. Some of those have gone through very difficult situations since and have stood strong in their faith, trusting you.
 
You have deepened us through this, showing me that I put too much importance on being successful from a human standpoint instead of keeping you in first place. You are prospering our efforts in a way that is different from what we wanted, but you are bringing growth and direction.
 
You, Lord God, are certainly worthy of worship, of glory, of adoration, of obedience, of surrender. I praise you now for what you will do today, as well as for what you will not do and for the opportunity to give you glory at each step of the way as you cause us to prosper as you define it.]