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Prepare Your Heart

To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.

Read God’s Word

Psalm 1-6
Romans 1:1-5

A Verse for Today

Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.

Psalm 1:1-2 (CSB): “How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the LORD’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.”

Reflecting on God’s Word

As the book of Psalms opens, it tells us what a happy man does not do and then what he does.

It begins by telling us that there is a progression to sin, and a happy man does not participate. The first step a happy man does not take is staying in close proximity to ungodly counsel and influence. If this continues, it’s only a matter of time before the one who has allowed his mind to be filled with sinful things begins to act in accordance with what he has allowed to occupy his mind. Then, if sinful behavior is left unchecked, this inevitably leads to a hardened heart that mocks people who are striving to live in obedience to God’s Word.

The Psalmist tells us in verse 1 that a happy man doesn’t go down that road. That road leads to sin, sin’s consequences, hardness of heart, guilt, and so much more. How in the world could someone be happy that experiences such negative forces?

Then, in verse 2, the Psalmist continues. He isn’t content to tell what a happy person does not do. He proceeds to tell us a happy person does.

Psalm 1:2 (CSB): “Instead, his delight is in the LORD’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.”

Notice that it doesn’t say that the happy person goes through the drudgery of studying his Bible. Instead, it says that he delights in God’s Word. He absolutely enjoys spending time reading God’s Word written for him. In fact, it is such a delight that he easily reflects and meditates on what God has said to him during the daytime and nighttime (i.e., all the time).

When Kim and I were dating, she would often write letters or send handwritten cards to me. I was so in love with her that I always read her letters multiple times. Sometimes, as I would go to class as I worked on my master’s degree, I would slip her letter or card into my textbook so that I could read what she wrote for the umpteenth time as the professor lectured.

I was not reading her letters because I had to. I was reading them because I wanted to. I delighted in them!

Imagine what it would be like if you could be like the happy person in Psalm 1:2 and delight in God’s Word like that! Let me give you a few pointers that I’ve discovered along the way:

  • Read your Bible daily. Your hunger will grow as you feed yourself God’s Word.
  • Use a good Bible translation that you find easy to understand (I like the Christian Standard Bible).
  • Read through a portion of Scripture that is interesting to you (poetry, narratives, letters, etc.)
  • Read it like for what it actually is: It is God’s letter to you!
  • Don’t focus on reading large portions of Scripture. Read smaller portions slowly and reflectively.
  • Close your eyes after reading a relevant verse or phrase and reflect on that truth. Mull it over in your mind. What is God saying to you in that passage?
  • Don’t be too consumed with fear of misunderstanding a passage. As you continue to spend time in God’s Word, you will become much more accurate as time passes.
  • Consider purchasing and enjoying Don Whitney’s book, “Praying the Bible.”

Spend Time in Prayer

  • Ask God to help you stay away from any hint of sin, and to repent when you stumble into it (Psalm 1:1).
  • Ask God to help you cultivate a desire for His Word that keeps you coming back for more (Psalm 1:2).

Going Deeper

If you want to dig a little deeper into how to enjoy your time in your Bible, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:

“How do we delight in the law of the Lord (Psalm 1:2)?”

Sharing

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Matt Ellis is the pastor of White Hall Baptist Church in Richmond, Kentucky (whitehallbaptistchurch.org)