Devotional readings focused on Psalm 1 for the first week of January
"Blessings in 2025!"
Has someone bestowed that wish on you in the last week or so? Maybe you have expressed it to friends and family members, too. Being blessed is a good thing! We want it for ourselves, for our husbands, children, grandchildren, parents and friends. In these early days of 2025, let's start by exploring through the lens of Psalm 1 what we are asking for when we seek the blessing of God.
Monday's reading--this week's Psalm: Psalm 1
Tuesday's reading--an historical background: Exodus 20:1-21
Wednesday's reading--wisdom about what we focus on: Proverbs 3:13-26
Thursday's reading--a prophet's perspective on the blessed life: Jeremiah 17:5-8
Friday's reading--Jesus describes a life of blessedness: Matthew 5:1-12
Weekend reading--encouragement for challenging situations: James 1:1-17
Meditation
Blessed is a familiar word in our culture. We use it as a way to say a friendly good bye or to bestow a desire for God's divine intervention in the life of a hurting friend. We use it as an exclamation--"bless your heart!"--both sincerely and slightly sarcastically. It can even be used as home decor to offer a visible reminder to be thankful.
These popular uses of blessed speak to an appreciation for all the good things that God has bestowed on us. Counting our blessings is a life-affirming practice. Even non-religious people utilize gratitude journals as a means of focusing on the positives.
However, the biblical use of blessed takes us beyond a positive mental attitude and speaks to a way of life. In this week's Psalm, the writer tells us what a blessed person doesn't do: she doesn't steep herself in an irreverent culture that opposes God. Then we learn what the blessed person does do: she steeps herself in God's word.
The results of blessedness
As we will see in this week's readings, the results go beyond a positive mental outlook and an attitude of gratitude. God's word acknowledges the gritty and grim parts of our lives as well as the happy ones, and shows how even in the worst of times we can still consider ourselves blessed.
While you read through this week's scripture passages, consider how the words might apply to this season of life. Midlife can be a challenging season because we lose some control over what happens in our families. Our parents have new needs that demand our attention, our children are forging their own lives and making their own decisions, and our own lives are changing as we meet the demands of aging. If those changes collide with our desires and expectations, how do we maintain our status as blessed? The readings this week will remind us to anchor ourselves in God's word and our relationship with Him. When our roots go deep, we can weather the storms and droughts of life.
Stressed . . . and blessed!
I don't know about you, but I'm thankful that God's word explains that even when I am stressed, I am still blessed. Even when the storms and winds shake me about, I am still God's child and His love and blessing rest upon me as I anchor my soul in Him.
Happy reading and meditating this week, dear friend! May you be truly blessed in 2025 as you rest your soul in the word of God and His love for you!
Reflection questions
I invite you to take a moment to meditate on these questions or journal your thoughts as you read each day's passage.
Monday: What could fruitfulness in my season of life look like in 2025? What would I like to see God do in and through my life this year? (Psalm 1:3)
Tuesday: The people of Israel responded with fear at the presence of God as He gave the law to Moses. What is my response to the presence of God and to His desire for me to live a holy life steeped in His word?
Wednesday: This passage describes the benefits of searching out and applying God's wisdom to life. What are some practical methods I could use to seek wisdom for life this year? What sources of Godly wisdom are available to me that I could incorporate into my daily practice or routine?
Thursday: Considering the metaphor of the bush and the tree found in Jeremiah 17, how would I describe myself? What is the condition of my "root system": where do I go for spiritual and mental nourishment? What sources of encouragement could I tap into more often to help me grow in my faith?
Friday: Which of Jesus's categories of "blessed" do I fall into? How have I seen God work in my life to bring about the blessing Jesus promises me in these verses?
Weekend: What is one way my spiritual walk has been strengthened through experiencing life's challenges? What is one way my heart has been encouraged through receiving God's good and perfect gifts? (Feel free to reflect on more than one for each question!)
Cindy, this is so good. Thank you!