Psalm 1:2-3, “But They delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”
When someone asks you, “How are you?” and you reply, “I am fine,” but you’re not, how do you bridge the gap between the emotions stemming from concern (and maybe anxiety) about the circumstances you’re going through and handling it all internally? It has been said that for every sigh there is a Psalm. For everything you are going through, there is a Psalm (Jon Courson). David and the other writers of Psalms expressed a wide range of emotions to God, from the depths of despair to rejoicing in worship. “The righteous (Ps. 1:1-2) can have the confidence of Psalm 16:11: You will show me the paths of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. God has a path, and it is a good road to take.” David Guzik, Blue Letter Commentary.
Eastern religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, among others, in meditation, aim to empty the mind. The trouble with that is it is Godless and dangerous because an empty mind may give an open door to deception or a demonic spirit (David Guzik, Blue Letter Bible Commentary). In contrast, when Christians meditate on the Word of God, thinking about each word and phrase, and then applying it and praying it back to the Lord, it provides protection for feeding one’s soul and is the way to receiving blessings for those that obey it according to the Psalms.
Psalm 1 instructs us to meditate day and night on God’s Word. Then we will become like a strong tree with strong and deep roots and will become strong and stable, drawing closer to the LORD. Jeremiah 17:7-8 declares, “Blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” God’s wisdom guides our lives and is our life source.
Living and striving to live a righteous life, following God’s standards, does not mean we will be rich and without any material needs when it says in Ps. 1:3, “and they prosper in all they do.” What it does mean is that God will work out everything for our good out of everything– Rom. 8:28, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Tough circumstances will challenge each of us, yet they will bring forth more fruit in our lives as a needed result. But it requires us and is a commandment found in Deut. 6:5 and Matt. 22:37, to delight more in God’s presence, loving Him with all our heart, soul, and mind, than reliving and dwelling on hurts and resentments that turn into bitterness which is a sin. Instead, seeking and applying total devotion and commitment to God, filling our minds with the word of God, needs to be accomplished. That is how more fruit will be grown within us, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and gentleness (Gal. 5:22-23) from spending time with those that love God and spending time in His Word. That is the truth to grab hold of and meditate on when someone asks you, “How are you?” and you say “I am fine” but you are not.
Listen to Matthew West’s Truth Be Told (Official Audio).