Triumphant Living

Life is tough, really tough.  We sometimes do things just to fit in with others.  We desire something and so we compromise our friends, our family, our belief, our faith, our trust in the LORD God Almighty - just to be accepted by certain people.

At the time our choices may seem "okay," and we can surely justify much of what we do even though it is absolutely wrong.  Sometimes our wrong choices may seem justified because they are to keep our employment, our friends, our family, our children --- much less anything to do with money and prestige.

I love how the book of Psalms begins. It is a true testimony of who we are suppose to be in the LORD. When you read Psalm 1:1-3, if it does not sound like your very own testimony, you will need to run to God and even seek godly counsel from a person who can point you in the right direction of changing and coming closer to God in His truth. 

Psalm 1:1 begins with the example of not even listening to, or walking with bad, wicked people.  You are not to heed their counsel.  When they speak, they are not gauging their words to help you or anyone else draw closer to God.  The wicked are arrogant, prideful, and all about themselves.  You definitely do not want to be like them! 

Even to stand and hang around sinners may lead you to try to fit in with them, and soon enough you will begin to act like them.  On the other hand, if you are befriending them as a witness for the LORD, then you must continually evaluate your own desires and motives, as unto the LORD, so that you do not fall into the trap of fitting in and becoming like them.

Verse one ends with not sitting and spending time with people who mock, scoff, laugh, or ridicule others - especially God.   Even gossiping can lead you to slowly changing your heart values so as to become more like them, and all of this would be you trying to fit in with them. 

The progression of walking, standing, and sitting shows how we begin forming friendships and alliances with people.  We must be so very careful at the very beginning of all relationships so we do not eventually find ourselves standing with, sitting with
those who drag us away, willingly, from our first love - the gospel, and Jesus Christ. 

Our delight, our joy, should always be in the LORD: what He says, and what His truth is.  We can enjoy our lives in Him by remembering who He is, what He has done for us - everything, including all the way to giving us our blessed Savior!

When we live for Him, we will be like a tree that never lacks nutrients because it is by its source.  When we are by our source, the LORD God, we will be able to produce fruit no matter what is happening in our lives at any given time.  If we are connected to our Source, we will not wither even if we live in chaos.

Finally, verse 3 ends with prospering.  When we are connected to our wonderful Source, we will prosper.  Prosper may make many think of finances, but prospering is so much more than any funds could purchase.  When we rely on our Lord Jesus, we will be successful in Him.  The world may look at us not thinking we are prosperous, but our riches are in Heaven.  We will thrive and be triumphant in our lives for Him.  Our prosperity in HIm is more valuable to us than any earthly riches, and our lives in Him will shine brightly in this world which is not our home.