God desires that His children think His thoughts. The first three verses of Psalm 1 reveal that He will bless those who meditate on His Word daily. The Bible is God’s thoughts to us.

It is His Word in the minds of believers that makes our thoughts pleasing in His sight. In Romans 12:2, Paul talks about how the believer’s mind must be renewed – which enables it to be transformed to the will of God. Then, in I Corinthians 2:16, he says that we have the “mind of Christ.”

In Noah’s day, the imagination of the hearts of the people were only evil continually. People are no different today. Even though some may have a form of godliness, their hearts are unregenerated. They walk in darkness and are incapable of pleasing God in their thoughts or their actions. Romans 8:7,8 says: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

In this chapter, the only difference between the ungodly and the blessed man is the fact that the blessed man meditates on God’s Word. The Word not only enables him to be blessed, but it also gives him value. He delights in the Word of God.

The wicked have no desire to hear the Word of God. They despise it. Chaff is worthless – it is airy and light and the wind just blows it away. When harvesting crops in Bible days, the chaff would be gathered and burned. This is a picture of what will happen to the unregenerate on judgment day.

The wheat has weight and is the desired product. It will be gathered into God’s “barn” (Heaven).

Are you wheat or chaff?

Yesterday, I talked about how and why meditation is so necessary to receiving God’s blessing. It is also essential to the growth of the Christian. Psalm 1:3 talks about the extent of the blessing and growth to be received through meditation when it is performed daily.

The illustration of that blessing and growth is likened to a tree planted near a river. A tree in this case would have a constant supply of water, which would result in a lot of fruit.

The tree also would not lose its leaves prematurely because of the constant abundance of water. It does not need to fear drying up.

Daily meditation on God’s Word is promised to result in success in whatever you do. This success is conditioned by the doing of those things the Word says – as you learn of them.

It does not mean that God will bless all your plans – as some people suggest. Instead, it means that as you meditate daily on the Word and apply those Biblical principles, your plans will be molded to God’s plans. Only when they conform to His plans will you see success.

Do you want that kind of success? Daily meditation is the key. The joy of living a life following His plans is that there are no regrets.

There are many ideas out there about how to be blessed. Some of the strongest blessings are related to the Word of God. 

The above verse is a clear example of this principle. The Bible repeatedly lets it be known that God’s Book is essential to getting His blessing. Despite this, few people claiming to be Christians actually read it every day.

As the verse says, reading is not enough. The believer must also meditate on its teachings. It means to think about what you read and get out of it all you can – like a cow chewing its cud seeking to get all the sweetness out of it.

You also want to pray about what you read, confess sins when the text reveals them, and asking God to help you fulfill the responsibilities and duties mentioned.

Lastly, notice the word “delight.” When your heart is right toward God and His Book, you will delight in it and meditation on it will not be a chore. There are so many marvelous things in God’s Book that it will delight you if you let it. Your time spent in the Word and prayer will become one of your greatest joys.

In the first chapter of the Psalms, God, through David, reveals the kind of person He wants to bless. These blessings are not necessarily earthly or material blessings.

The word “bless” means happy. It is not necessarily the smart person, the handsome or beautiful person, and it is not the charismatic individual.

Instead, the brief chapter reveals that, first, there are some things the blessed person does not do. He or she does not hang out with people who God disapproves of. These people are put into three categories: the “ungodly,” the “sinners,” and the “scornful.” Each of them follows their own desires and plans – none of which God can approve of.

The blessed person does not associate closely with any of these people. Their advice and “wisdom” are contrary to God and His Word. It is because they are not enlightened by God and do not understand the Bible or the way of the Holy Spirit.

When the believer needs direction and advice, they need to go to the Bible for it or to a Pastor – if they really want to be one of those people who God blesses. God has given us Divine advice and guidance for every situation we will face in life. There are plenty of people online or on TV, etc., who want to give their advice, but it will not help you to draw close to God or live victoriously for God.

Proverbs 19:27 tells us: “Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.” This means do not even listen to advice or counsel that comes from people who do not know God.

If you want to be blessed by God, it becomes necessary to spend time in the Word every day to know what our Lord says about the things we face daily. When you do, you will learn the way He wants you to live for Him.

Do you want to become that person God wants to bless? Are you in the Word every day and in church where the Word is taught regularly?

There is a lot of confusion in the world about Jesus Christ. The biggest question of all is Who is Jesus Christ?

Sadly, even among professing believers there are considerable answers to this question. The biggest reason for this ignorance is a lack of understanding the Bible.

Paul makes the argument in the verses above that the Gospel – that which can save the soul from Hell – is hid from those who need it. The Gospel consists of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for sinners, which is how He paid for our sins and can save the soul. Paul also explains who needs it – “the lost.” That is, those who do not know Christ as their Savior yet.

The “god of this world” is the evil one – Satan. He and his evil cohorts are constantly busy seeking to prevent people from understanding the Gospel, as well as making it so that they never hear it. One of the ways he does this is by keeping people too busy to think about their eternity.

In these two verses, the Apostle also explains that Jesus is God and He wants to give them “light” – which means truth and understanding of the truth.

Have you believed on Jesus Christ yet to be your personal Savior? Or, are you one of the ones that the wicked one has blinded, making you think you have another day – when you may not?

Not long ago, the business world discovered that daily meditation has some benefits. Several leaders encourage others to engage in it regularly.

Christian meditation is different. It involves focusing on principles of the Word of God or on God Himself. It can mean thinking about a particular verse or doctrine, and more.

The promise of success is clear. God promises to give “good success” and prosperity in your life. It does not necessarily mean riches or fame. It will involve satisfaction in knowing that you are pleasing to God.

In order to have the success God wants to give you – you must first surrender to His will for you. Then, notice that there are two conditions in the text verse. The first is to meditate daily on His Word. The second is to be deliberate in doing all that you read in His Word. 

Along with knowing that you are doing His will, you will discover the joy He gives. You can also experience a life without regrets. Although God never promises a trouble-free life, it certainly is one worth living – and He will help and guide you all along the way!

In the Old Testament, Moses gave very strict commands about maintaining the pure worship of God. Behind those rules are the Ten Commandments – especially the first two.

He warned Israel, just a little while before he died, to watch out for those who would attempt to get people to turn from the principles and laws God had already given to Israel. He said that there will come some people, calling themselves prophets and other things, suggesting that their new message was from God – or another god.

God may permit false prophets to rise up occasionally (more so now) to test (“prove”) His people. He wants them to see (He already knows) their own hearts as to whether or not they will stay faithful to God and His Word.

Their intent is to distract God’s people from the truth of God’s Word and from the righteous worship of God. The warning especially needs to be heeded today. Many modern-day so-called prophets, preachers, apostles, and priests, etc., think nothing of delivering messages that are contrary to God’s infallible and eternal Word.

They are everywhere on TV, the Internet, radio, in print, and elsewhere. Things that God forbids, they say are OK. Methods that God does not approve of – they say are now permitted. They condemn anyone who contradicts them – even criticizing the Word of God – which God has promised to preserve forever.

Christian, evaluate what you hear and see by the Word of God – and you cannot go wrong. The Bible tells us that when our Lord will judge – it will be based on the Word (“the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”) – not on some man’s word who contradicts what God said. I would hate to be found guilty of contradicting what God plainly said on that Day! Remember that it is His Word that was given “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (II Timothy 3:17).

The Bible is the source of truth for every Christian. It repeatedly speaks of Christ’s resurrection from the dead and then declares that He gave them many “infallible proofs” (Acts 1:3) of His resurrection during the next forty days.

Everything the Christian believes depends on the fact of the resurrection. The Bible records it accurately in each of the Gospels, with each one bearing slightly different testimony as each witness saw it. Identical accounts would point to collusion.

The text verse for today says the Bible can be believed. You trusted it for your salvation – now trust it to guide your life. The promises are yours to claim – once it is seen who they are for and any conditions that might apply. They are all there to enable believers to trust Him and to get victory.

God is looking for overcomers with His help. With God’s armor and the promises, you can do His will and run your course. Remember His promise: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).

The leaders of Jesus’ day knew that He had not been given Scripture training in one of the formal schools. They were surprised that He could even read the Scriptures, which is evident in the previous verse.

Many people make a similar mistake today – they think that Jesus was just another Teacher or a good man. What needs to be realized is where Jesus learned what He openly taught. He did not invent it, nor did He hear it from some other teacher of the day. No, He was taught it from His Father – Who is God in Heaven.

The fact that God told Him what to say means that His message carries a much heavier weight to those who hear it. The Bible is God’s words, and you can be sure that God does not speak in vain – He expects obedience to His words.

Jesus also gave those who heard Him at that time a way to test His words. He said that if you will do what He said, you can be sure that His words are the truth from God. The proof of their Source is that His words will be confirmed as the truth in your heart as you obey them in faith.

Obedience is also necessary to understand the Bible correctly. The Holy Spirit reveals truth (illuminates) in the Bible as we obey Him. There are many blessings in the Word of God not received by those who only half-heartedly follow the Lord.