"Meditation – 60 Days of Prayer" for Monday, 02 May 2016 from The Upper Room in Nashville, Tennessee, United States

"Meditation – 60 Days of Prayer" for Monday, 02 May 2016 from The Upper Room in Nashville, Tennessee, United States


MONDAY, MAY 2
READ PSALM 1:1-4
PSALM 1:1 How blessed are those

who reject the advice of the wicked,

don’t stand on the way of sinners

or sit where scoffers sit!

2 Their delight

is in Adonai’s Torah;

on his Torah they meditate

day and night.

3 They are like trees planted by streams —

they bear their fruit in season,

their leaves never wither,

everything they do succeeds.

4 Not so the wicked,

who are like chaff driven by the wind.

We are not at peace until we find ourselves rooted in true relationship with God, an organic and life-giving relationship. Until we reach that place, we may feel restless, tense, and dissatisfied in our soul journey.
Psalm 1 describes right relationship with the Creator as like a tree planted by a stream. The roots move toward water naturally, strongly. Fertile, watered land brings forth healthy plants and trees.
When we look at our lives, sometimes we see ourselves in an uphill battle and find the way difficult. We feel uprooted and vulnerable. Our lives are not refreshed but withering. Israel finds itself in a similar place. God has made covenant with Israel. Israel tries to remain in holy relationship with the Creator God, and its prophets urge no more alienation or separation from God. Even though the people of Israel stray far from their original relationship, they believe that God’s redemptive grace will be available as restorative power.
“Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night.” Blessed is the one who meditates on the law of the Lord and faithfully pursues right relationship with God. Blessed is the one who desires true relationship with God.
On our life’s journey, may we, like trees planted by streams, sink our roots deep into the living water. Then may we gradually be grounded in God’s Spirit and bear fruit with a peaceful mind.
Creator God, make us a blessing to this earth of yours and all that are part of it. We desire to bear fruit in your graciousness and abundance. Amen.[Hee-Soo Jung]

Our mailing address is:
The Upper Room Strategic Initiatives
PO Box 340007

Nashville, Tennessee 37203, United States
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