myImmanuel

“He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not whither. Whatever he does prospers.”

– Psalm 1:3 NIV

Careful inspection of Psalm 1 reveals there is a lifestyle that results in productive living and the outcome of that lifestyle is prosperity. Verse 1 of Psalm 1 illustrates the depiction of a blessed man being one who is mindful about the company he keeps. “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.” – Psalm 1:1 NIV I don’t believe this verse is just referring to the proximity of my association with the types of people mentioned in this verse, as much as it is highlighting the necessity of not adopting such mindsets that would inhibit my ability to be a blessed man. If I’m never in the company of sinners how can I lead them to Christ?

Walk, stand, sit. What is my daily posture as it relates to God’s word and the application of its principles? A blessed man relies upon the truth of scripture as the basis, foundation and means of experiencing the type of lifestyle God has ordained for those who seek sincerely to be living sacrifices for Jesus. “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:2 NIV The principle of prosperity, from the perspective of the Scripture, is inclusive of an intimate personal relationship where the sincere seeker is invested in God’s word and the application of its truth. It is illustrated in Psalm 1 as a man who delights in God’s law and meditates on it (i.e, thinks about it, reflects upon it, opens his mind to understanding greater revelation and illumination of what is written, sincerely desires to understand and accept God’s word as the authoritative doctrine on living a spiritual life).

In the gospel of John, Jesus reiterates this truth revealed in Psalm 1 by explaining to His disciples the necessity of the word of God in being productive. “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” – John 15:7 NIV If I walk in the way God has chosen for me to take, standing firmly upon His word as the foundation for living the life He has ordained for me as His child and consistently sit at His feet as one who sincerely seeks to learn from the Master ( a posture of humility) then, as the blessed man is described as one who is like a tree planted by the rivers of water and his leaves never wither, I should encounter prosperity in every aspect of my life (spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, financial, relational, and professional).

May God bless you and help you to walk in His ways, stand firm in your faith and sit at His feet to grow in His grace and truth so you may experience the fullness of life Christ came for us to have.