Text:

"1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish."

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Lexicon:

vs. 1 - blessed - "happiness"

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vs. 1 - walks -"behave, exercise, to go along, the place toward which one is going, to follow any manner of life, to follow in one's footsteps and to imitate him in life and manners"

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vs. 2 - delight - "pleasure, desire, something precious"

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vs. 2 - law - "instruction, doctrine, the manner and principles which men follow"

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vs. 2 - meditates - "to murmur or groan, to ponder, to study, to speak, to utter, to sing and celebrate, to remember anything"

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vs. 3 - all that he does - "to labor, to work about anything, to make, to produce by labor, to create, to abide, to stay, to complete, to execute anything"

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vs. 3 - prospers - "to push forward, to break out, to go over or through (as a river), to go on well, to succeed, to flourish, to finish well"

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vs. 6 - knows - "to ascertain by seeing, to perceive, to be acquainted, to know by experience"

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vs. 6 - way - "road (as trodden), course of life or mode of action, a journey that one takes, the action of going or walking, a path, the course in which one goes or follows, the mode of worshiping God"

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vs. 6 - perish - "to be lost, to lose oneself, to wander away, to be destroyed, to cut off, not escape, fail, to have no way to flee"

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What does this reveal about God's character?

The Lord is a generous God.  He wants us to be happy and to thrive.  He does not wish bad things for us.  The Lord is just.  He will punish those who are unrighteous.  The Lord is with us and knows us.  He is aware of our struggles and victories.  His eye is forever on us and He longs to know us.  

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Questions:

1) Am I happy?  The kind of happy that is unshakable and not based on mere circumstances, which change so often?  

2) Am I imitating someone who is not a follower of Christ? 

3) Do I value my time with the Lord?  Is it my soul's desire to seek Him and to please Him?

4) Do I spend time studying, meditating on, celebrating and remembering God's Word daily? 

5) Am I acquainted with God?  Do I know him personally or have I wandered away from Him?  If you are lost and would like to be in relationship with Jesus, please visit our Resources page. 

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Prayer:

Father God, thank you for an unshakable happiness and joy that does not change with my moods or circumstances.  Father, give me a heart that seeks You wholly.  I pray that I would learn to abide in You, and that You would be my heart's desire.  It's so easy to get caught up in the world, and in my to-do lists and other people's expectations of me; but, Lord, keep Yourself ever-present in my mind and heart.  Remind me when I stray from You and gently bring me back to having You as my focus and my center.  Keep me on Your path that leads to life.   I pray you would help me to surround myself with those who also have a heart for You.  I know that You have called us to witness to those who also need You and that we shouldn't live in a Christian bubble, but help me to always keep around me solid, Christian friends that will encourage and challenge me.  Give me wisdom in choosing friends and acquaintances that will honor You and influence me.  In Jesus' name, Amen!   

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