A Destructive Progression and Destiny or a Fruitful Life—It's Your Choice
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What direction is your life going in?
The direction of our life doesn’t just happen. Sometimes the process is hidden to the natural eye, but there's a progression from what may be hidden at the start to what becomes visible to others.
A tree begins as a seed, develops roots, then pushes up through the surface of the soil. Life and nourishment push through the inside of the outer skin of the stem, which becomes bark covering both the trunk and branches.
When a tree buds with new leaves, flowers, then produces its fruit or nuts (seeds), we see the end product of the tree's growth. But the growth is a continuing progression. It didn't just happen.
Our life is a progression based on the choices we make along the way.
Who we become doesn't just happen. We grow and develop based on our choices and the influences we allow to shape us, and those influences affect our choices.
If we don’t make wise choices along the path of life, the unwise choices will lead us in a downward progression away from the path that leads to a blessed and fruitful life.
When we find ourselves guided more by the wisdom of this world or popular opinions and views, it will lead down a path that is a digression away from the better path of life.
The more time we spend with those who don’t trust in the Lord, the more likely we are to be influenced by them until we find ourselves sitting among those who mock what is good, right, and just.
This departure from the path of life begins with a series of unwise choices. Often these are not choices we make intentionally but by default.
Unwise and ungodly influences direct or impact our choices even when we don’t make a conscious or intentional choice—these influences set up a default choice for us.
Life is a daily process of growth and development in one direction or another.
The question is—Where is our life headed?
Ultimately, there are two destinies for our life based on the accumulative decisions we make and what influences our decisions along the way. This is what Psalm 1 declares to us in a poetic and powerful way.
Some insights...
This first of the 150 collected Psalms, expresses a simple truth but also illustrates the basic elements found throughout the Book of Psalms.
The Psalms are poetic hymns and prayers, some short and some much longer. The words paint pictures to help us see what the psalmist expresses and feels.
These poems rhyme with thoughts rather than similar-sounding words. This is called parallelism—parallel or similar expressions of the same idea or thought.
The Psalms express strong emotions, deep worship, penitent prayers, cries for help, and lots of repetition, which makes them memorable.
Although we can study them, they are intended to be more devotional than doctrinal in their purpose. They are expressions of the soul that stir our hearts and provoke thought and reverence (worship) of God.
If you’d like to have more insight into reading and studying the Psalms, see the download link below.
I encourage you to read through Psalm 1 (below) and consider the questions that follow it.
Scripture
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper. [vss 1-3]
The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish. [vss 4-6]
(Psalm 1:1-6 NKJV) [Context– Psalm 1]
Digging Deeper and Making it Personal
Review the Scriptures above as you answer the following questions
What are 3 ways a person is blessed with joy by what they don't do?
What are 2 things a person can do that bring blessing in their life and makes them like a fruitful tree?
What are the wicked likened to and what will they face? What will sinners not do?
What encouraging promise is given to those who follow a godly path? What is the destiny of those who go in the opposite direction?
Do you see the progression in what a godly person does not do? Do you see the increasing involvement away from the truth of God?
What do you spend more time on—listening to what others say or post on social media, or listening to and reading God's Word?
Do you see the contrast between the person who delights and meditates on the truth of God and the one who goes their own way?
Where is the path of your life leading you at this time? Do you realize the choices you make along the way determine your destiny?
Would you like a free study guide for your devotional study of Psalms?
Click Here to get a Free Psalms Study Guide
