Some of the men in the church here are going through a leadership training class by Lynn Anderson called They Smell Like Sheep. The idea is, using the biblical metaphor of shepherding, that leaders (shepherds) are so entwined with people's lives (their "sheep") that they "smell" like sheep. It's a good book, and a good course.
In lesson one, Anderson includes an article about praying the psalms. I've read about this before and have some experience in praying the psalms, but was reminded in this reading of this great habit that I've neglected. He challenges those taking the course to pray through the entire book of Psalms in one month (5 psalms each day) and then to continue praying one each day.
I took up his challenge but modified it. I'm going to begin praying one psalm each day. Today, of course, I prayed Psalm 1. Thinking about the psalm, I was reminded of the two ways to approach God. One way ends in life and righteousness, the other in perishing. The key to walking in the life-ending and life-affirming way is to meditate on the law (scripture; the words of God) day and night.
This was critical for me. Over the last 6 months or so, I have probably read more of the Bible than at any other time of my life. But I haven't meditated on it. (There is a difference.) Through praying Psalm 1, God challenged me to meditate on his word, not just in the morning when I do my Bible reading, but also in the evening. I've been brainstorming ways to do this.
It is through meditation that we grow in strength of faith to be like the great tree planted by a stream that yields its fruit in season. This is what we want to be--giants in faith. But we only get there through meditation on God's word, which allows his word to seep into the cracks and crevices of our souls, take root, and blossom.
Below is an audio devotional I made awhile back on Psalm 1. I think it's appropriate to repost it.
In lesson one, Anderson includes an article about praying the psalms. I've read about this before and have some experience in praying the psalms, but was reminded in this reading of this great habit that I've neglected. He challenges those taking the course to pray through the entire book of Psalms in one month (5 psalms each day) and then to continue praying one each day.
I took up his challenge but modified it. I'm going to begin praying one psalm each day. Today, of course, I prayed Psalm 1. Thinking about the psalm, I was reminded of the two ways to approach God. One way ends in life and righteousness, the other in perishing. The key to walking in the life-ending and life-affirming way is to meditate on the law (scripture; the words of God) day and night.
This was critical for me. Over the last 6 months or so, I have probably read more of the Bible than at any other time of my life. But I haven't meditated on it. (There is a difference.) Through praying Psalm 1, God challenged me to meditate on his word, not just in the morning when I do my Bible reading, but also in the evening. I've been brainstorming ways to do this.
It is through meditation that we grow in strength of faith to be like the great tree planted by a stream that yields its fruit in season. This is what we want to be--giants in faith. But we only get there through meditation on God's word, which allows his word to seep into the cracks and crevices of our souls, take root, and blossom.
Below is an audio devotional I made awhile back on Psalm 1. I think it's appropriate to repost it.
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