Living The Psalms With Jesus: Grow Closer To God Through PrayerSample

"The Path of Wisdom"

As we begin reading the Psalms, David tells us that the Scripture, God’s word, is the greatest blessing in the world. If we can understand it, we receive a wellspring of wisdom that leads to the good life! He encourages the people of God to found their lives in the wisdom of Scripture. If they do, he promises that their lives will be established on a firm foundation.

Psalm 1 teaches us the importance of a life that meditates on Scripture. Notice, it doesn’t say “studies” the law but rather “meditates” on the law. This is hugely important and cannot be missed. Though studying Scripture is important, meditating on Scripture is more important, because praying through and meditating on Scripture is about changing the heart, not just the mind. The word for meditate here in Hebrew literally means “to chant.” Many traditions ‒ like Benedictine monks, for example ‒ have chanted the Scriptures for centuries.

Of course, in order to meditate on the Scriptures, one has to memorize them. Psalm 1 encourages us to memorize Scripture, meditate on it, and even use it to pray and sing. It promises that the person who does this will be like a tree planted by water whose life is flourishing. That’s a promise you can count on.

Prayer: Dear Father, your word centers my life. The more I meditate on Scripture, the closer I am to you and the more I become like Jesus. Your word is my greatest blessing and a wellspring of wisdom that flows from your heart to mine. Amen.