least complicated

Opening Prayer: Forgive us, O Lord, when we make things more complicated than they really are.  Help us to delight in your word and meditate on it day and night, so that we might be more like a tree planted by streams of water and less like chaff that the wind blows away.  Amen.

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6

Journal: What is your life like these days?  Do you feel more like a tree planted by streams of water, or like chaff that the wind blows away?  Why?  What will get you to the life you most deeply desire with God?  Will you do it?

Reflection: Life with God is a lot less complicated than we make it out to be.  Take the words of Psalm 1, for example.  If we wish to live lives that are fruitful and alive and vibrant; if we really wish to be like a tree planted by streams of water, there is a simple way to do just that—delight and meditate.  Otherwise, we will be like chaff, blown around by the wind.  

     It is a simple case of A, plus B, equals C.  The problem lies in our unwillingness to do A and B.  The psalmist makes it very clear that if we delight in God’s law (A), and meditate on it day and night (B), we will be like a tree planted by streams of water (C).  So the question is not if the formula works, the question is are we willing to do what it takes to get the result we most deeply desire?

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Plant your words within my heart, O God, that I might meditate on them throughout the course of this day.  That way I can live my life firmly planted in you, rather than being blown around by the winds of mood and circumstance.  Amen.