The entry point into the Psalms begins with a meditation preparing the participant for prayer. It is a step towards deep communication with God, helping take us to the place where we can shed our selfishness, our worries, and the noise of the world, which is no small task. So many things fill our time, steal our attention and cause anxiety to rise up within us. This Psalm challenges the reader to choose between two ways: the way of the righteous, and the way of the wicked. The choice is clearly laid out, and the author explains the behaviors we need to adopt, and the likely outcomes for these choices. When we read the gospel accounts of Jesus’ ministry, we find he knew that being deeply rooted in God required lots of prayer. What one or two changes might you need to make in your prayer life to experience a deeper connection with God, and find the strength and courage to stand strong in your faith each and every day?

Psalm 1:1-3

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.