Psalm 1:1 - 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.
Recently, this verse forced me to consider some very frank and practical questions. For instance, how exactly does one avoid walking with the wicked in a world when it is evident that most are ungodly. Also, how does a person not stand in the way that sinners take when every human sins? As for not sitting among "mockers", the Brenton Septuagint Translation made it clear that such types are essentially those who are evil. How, therefore, can one avoid evil people?
However, there was no need for concern as the very next verse in the chapter provided the needed insight. Psalm 1:2 - Rather, he delights in the teachings of the LORD and reflects on his teachings day and night (GWT).
God provided the answer - we are to delight in His word and spend time with it. This makes sense when we think about it. If a person delights in smelling good, for instance, they would invest time, money, and more in ensuring you smelled awesome at all times, right?
We need to do the same regarding the Lord. And the Bible is the way to align with the instructions of Psalm 1:1. The more time we spend with the word of God, the easier it is to hear what He is telling us on a daily basis. God constantly throws up red flags to keep us from stepping, standing, and sitting in the company of those we are to avoid. However, it is only when we seek that guidance in His word that we will actually receive it. At that point, He transforms us into godly people who live righteously and aren't sinners through His grace.
And if you wonder what the blessing for this is, look no further than Psalm 1:3 - 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. So often, we pray that God will bless the works of our hands but God has given us a crucial key to achieve this - delight in His word. Then, your success will come, for in His word is everything you need for this life and the one to come.
God is straightforward. Not only does He reveal the blessings for obedience, He also shares the consequences for disobedience. Those who fail to delight in His word, will become like the wicked and endure their punishment. Psalm 1:5 - They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. Believers should be heaven-minded, desiring to stand before the Lord - among the godly - and not those who will gnash their teeth (Matthew 13:49-50).
The Bible is filled with many more blessings for the godly as well as curse for the unrighteous. As is always the case with God, He leaves us to make the choice. I pray, we will all invest in His word so we become knowledgeable and are not destroyed for lack of understanding as stated in Hosea 4:6. IJMN, Amen.
See you at Noon EST for fellowship. God bless you!
From CS - Thank you God for this beautiful day. Thank you for waking me up this morning. Thank you for answering my prayers. Thank you for helping me this far. Thank you for a body that works and a mind that thinks. Thank you God for shielding my mind. Thank you for peace and quiet. Thank you for peace. Thank you for rest.
I ask that you safeguard my aunts from harm. I ask that you remain a steady force for everyone in this thread. I ask that you touch the hardened hearts of unbelievers as you did touch mine. Please remove the scales from their eyes. Please help them seek you out. Please show them your love, Lord. Please help them see.
*From AC* - Adonai, I touch and agree on all of today's praises, intercessory prayers, and silent prayers and I lift them up before you. May our Father's perfect Will be magnified in our lives, in Jesus' precious name, I pray, Amen.
*From MFC* - Amen! Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ we lift this community up to you in prayer. We may never know what evil lurks beneath the surface, but God You still have dominion over all. We are heartbroken over another school shooting. Please send an angel of comfort to minister over the survivors, grief stricken parents, teachers and friends. We need You now more than ever before!
CLOSING PRAYER
Father, again You have done it. Bringing us together from multiple backgrounds and nations to honor You with our praise and intercession.
Thank You God for this privilege.
Thank You, Lord for teaching us the importance of Psalm 1. The blessings it contains as well as the warning. we have prayed to be recipients of the blessings and trust You, God, to guide us toward these.
As we go our separate ways, I pray over today's participants that the rest of their day shall be blessed and filled with Your glory. IJMN Amen.
*From CS* - Thanks to you, FFJ, for another good talk on Christian daily living. I have found that when I don’t read the Bible daily or do something Christian related on a day to day basis, I just don’t feel right. Besides the fact that I need to read in order to learn and grow properly, reading the Bible makes me feel close to God, honestly.
*From AC* - Abba I lift up before you those impacted by yesterday's school shooting in TN. May You be the source of healing, comfort, and strength for those injured, the loved ones of the victims, and the traumatised students and staff. We continue to pray for a miraculous change in the mindset of our leaders and citizens and for a mighty cleansing of the wickedness that plagues this nation. May Your righteous will prevail and may You shield and protect us and our children from harm as we go about our daily lives. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
LAST 10 MINUTES
Today, we were reminded that we need God's word to stay out of trouble. That way we don't end up step, stand, and sit, in the company of the wicked.
If you need more to convince you of why this is so dangerous, please remember the story of Lot and his family (Genesis 19). The Lord was about to destroy Sodom & Gomorrah, and He told Lot to evacuate not just the city but even the plains. To find shelter on the hills.
When we spend time in the company of the wicked, we not only risk becoming like them, but there is the chance of being close by when God decides to strike them with His punishment. Do you want to endure the punishment of the ungodly or would you rather be safe, away from the judgment that will surely come? God will make this your portion and you will not look back like Lot's wife, IJMN, Amen.
If you want this for yourself, then join me in prayer.
Lord, I want to be safe in Your arms. I want to be a recipient of the blessings that come upon the righteous. Father, where I have spent time in the company of the ungodly, I repent and seek Your forgiveness. Lord, may I be like a tree by the stream, yielding fruit in season, with leaves that do not wither, and a life that enjoys your prosperity and testifies to your glory. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you (Psalm 51:12 NLT). IJMN, Amen.
Marvelous God, Thou alone are worthy to be praised. None is greater than You. None compares to You and none ever will. Psalm 139:5 - You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Lord, there is so much going on in the world today and it is inducing fear and stressing people. I pray that Your people will stand confident in Your word from Psalm 139:5. That their eyes will open to know that their protection and safety is in You. That they will know in their hearts that You provide never-ending love which translates into You surrounding those who will believe. May they believe, Lord, and receive the protection You provide them for free, IJN, Amen.
*From BI* - Lord, I pray for those who long to get close to You. I pray that You direct and guide every step they take towards knowing You more. By Your grace and mercy, I pray that eyes are open and more receive Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Reveal Yourself to them in great and mighty ways. May the Holy Spirit lead them to repentance and transform their hearts. Lord, we know Your strength is perfected in weakness so may Your children surrender to You and be strengthened. May Your grace cover them and comfort them. May the lost be found IJMN Amen.
Lord, please come down and make Your presence felt in this place.
Isaiah 64:1 - Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!
PRAYER TIME
Let us put our personal prayer needs to the side for the next 25 minutes.
It is time to pray for others.
Don't worry about what troubles you. Worry about what someone else is going through.
Be unselfish and lift up prayer requests for somebody or something that is not you or tied to your personal needs.
Isaiah 14:27 - For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?
God who can challenge You? Who can stand against You? You who with a breath caused the seas to stand still. You who with a word brought mighty armies to their knees. You who cripple the great.
Lord, even today, You are doing these and so much more.
Praise be to my God. Praise be to my King. Praise be to the Righteousness One. He who is forever and ever. To You be all adoration!
*From BI* - Thank You Lord for having my back. Thank You for lighting my path. Thank You for letting goodness and mercy follow me always. Thank You for never changing. I thank You Father that I can always come before Your throne of grace. Your love is like no other and I am so grateful. Thank You King of kings.
I thank You, King of the nations, for the world is in Your hands. All is subject to Your authority.
Lord God Almighty, I hail Your name.
Thy will be done, here on earth as in heaven. Take all the glory!
*From T1983* - Thank you God for never leaving my side! Thank you for the continued blessings and for the ones that are on the way.
*From AC* - My Lord, thank You for being my strength and seeing me through all of these challenges. My faith is in You alone. Thank You for the unexpected financial blessing I received this morning. You're so so so good to me. Never forsaking me. Always coming through for me. I am so humbled by your kindness and grace. Take all the glory Lord. In Your Name Jesus, I give all thanks, Amen.
God, for the things You have done, I declare that they are marvelous in my sight.
For the things You will do, I declare they shall be like a miracle.
Hallelujah!!
*From MFC* - O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. Isaiah 25:1
Psalm 145:1 - I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.
Until the end of time, my Father, I give You all the praise. Glory, glory, and more glory belong to You, my King!
*From BI* - To You Abba Father be all the glory, honour and adoration. Thank You Lord for Your faithfulness, love, mercy and forgiveness. Where will I be without Your protection, correction and guidance? Thank You for always being with me. Thank You Lord for all the things I have and the things I do not have for You always have my best interest. You Lord are amazing, kind and gracious. A million tongue will never suffice. Thank You Yahweh for yesterday, today and forever.
PRAISE TIME
Worship is our warfare and our praises are our weapon to silence the accuser.
But, more importantly, our thanksgiving pleases the Lord. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the reason why we gather to let our hearts rejoice in Him. Even when things aren't great in our lives or around us.
Praise the Lord, somebody!
*From AC* - Good morning Peppers! I’ve been away traveling and dealing with life issues, so it’s been a minute. It’s good to be back, all glory to God. Thank you @FFJ for today’s lesson. I missed our fellowship.
Thank You Lord, for this day you have made I will rejoice and be glad in it.
Abba, thank You for the transformative power of Your Word that is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training us in righteousness, so that we may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16).
Consume within us the biblical zeal and fresh Holy Ghost fire that sets our hearts ablaze for You, in Christ Jesus, Amen.
From DR14U -
*From MFC* - Last Friday might have been my last infusion. We are trusting God that my approval comes in to switch medications. The new medication is an injection every 3 months instead of IV treatment every 3 weeks.
Please pray for me, I had complications and the IV leaked the medicine in my arm leaving it swollen and hard. Ya girl is out here like Popeye!
I've been in and out of the hospital for the last five days and I am trusting God for healing. Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.
Thank You God for blessing me with a caring medical team. Thank You Lord that I have no blood clots. Provider and Protector, I give my concerns to You. May Your peace guard my mind and heart. In Jesus name AMEN!
From MFC - Good morning and Happy Tuesday! I pray that you all are doing well, I've missed you so much.
FFJ said: The more time we spend with the word of God, the easier it is to hear what He is telling us on a daily basis. God constantly throws up red flags to keep us from stepping, standing, and sitting in the company of those we are to avoid. However, it is only when we seek that guidance in His word that we will actually receive it. Paul was “in chains for Christ” when he wrote to the Philippians. Despite being in prison, Paul wrote a “joyful” letter (1:4, 25; 2:2, 29; 4:1), relentlessly encouraging the Philippian believers to “rejoice in the Lord always” (4:4). Ten years earlier, Paul brought the gospel to this Roman colony and was persecuted. Even though he was severely flogged and illegally imprisoned, Paul radiated joy and peace. For during adversity, “Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God” (v. 25). The apostle wrote, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace” (Philippians 4:6–7 nlt). God's word can transform stressful situations with the peace that passes understanding. We just have to delight in Him! Heavenly Father, you created us for a relationship. Lord, I meet and interact with different people each day, but not all of them have their hearts in the right place. Some people are agents of the enemy that is why I come to you, Father, asking you to help me discern godly souls from ungodly ones. Lord, I break evil soul ties with agents of the enemy that I have interacted with unknowingly. I renounce every covenant and agreement that I have made with these people, in the name of Jesus. I purify myself with the blood of Jesus and declare that I am completely free. In Jesus’ name, I believe and pray, Amen!
*From CD* - @FFJ
Sis, thank you for being obedient in allowing God to use you to further kingdom business! The word He provides you to share never miss their mark and today is no exception. Thank you for this, especially after yesterday's events and the wickedness that was visited again among children and innocence lost.
Love you all ❤️❤️
*From EC* - Amen and good morning ladies!
From HC - Father, continue to draw us near and give us a desire, the time and the discipline to read your word. Let it guide us daily. IJN Amen
*From BI* - I thank You Lord for this great day that You have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. Everyday is a gift from You and a chance to glorify You more and savour Your word. Thank You Lord for Your word which does not change. I thank You Lord for my Saviour Jesus Christ and His ultimate sacrifice for me. I thank You Lord for the gift of the Holy Spirit that intercedes on my behalf. It is so comforting to know that You see everything and I can never flee from Your gaze nor would I want to.
Thank you for today’s word sis @FFJ. May our thoughts, words and deeds be Spirit-led. May we Hunger and thirst for a closer walk with God. May God turn His face towards us and may we always abide in Him IJMN Amen.
From AO- Sister @FFJ our Heavenly Father have been using you sister. All praises be to our Lord and Savior! Thank you for your continued service and support and prayers. Thank you for being a vessel of the Lord’s ways and words. Love you for that