Summer in the Psalms: PSALM 1
INTRODUCTION
Long before a child ever begins to speak, they are spoken to for countless hours. How many words might a young child hear before they are able to utter back the simplest of sounds? In fact, all of this “talking to” is absolutely essential for a child to learn how to answer back. Eugene Peterson says: “Prayer is answering God.” Just like a child, long before you ever talked to God, he has been talking to you. We are simply talking back.
During Missio July Sabbath, we will continue exploring how to respond to God through a master class on prayer, otherwise known as the Psalms. July is designed to be a time of needed disruption from typical rhythms and hurried patterns so that we might have the space to re-discover God’s voice. As a church family, our hope is that these guides will be simple portals into God’s presence this month.
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
This guide is designed to be used by individuals, friends, families or as a missio community. It can take you anywhere between 30 minutes to one hour to journey through each guide. The process is designed to be a simple pathway to listen for God’s voice and respond. Don’t underestimate or overlook how ordinary moments can become divine appointments with God this July Sabbath.
STEP 1: READY
The unbelievable truth is this: You are about to hear God speak. Everytime you pick up the Bible, an encounter with God is possible. Would you ready yourself for coming into God’s presence and hearing God’s voice? To begin, offer this simple prayer to God and then wait in silence for 2 minutes:
Father, help me hear your voice.
Jesus, help me sense your presence.
Spirit, help me live according to your ways.
STEP 2: READ
Read through the Psalm slowly pausing at the end for 2 minutes to let it resonate deeply in your heart and community. Then, read through it again a second time.
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,2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.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.4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
STEP 3: REFLECT
Use these questions to guide discussion as a group or reflection as an individual:
As you heard the Psalm read, which word or phrase do you sense Jesus is trying to get your attention with?
What do you think it means to meditate on God’s Law day and night?
Can you think of someone in your life who embodies “that person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither”? What do you see that person doing?
How might the description of the wicked in this Psalm, serve as a warning for us to watch over our lives closely?
What patterns and practices do you want to begin developing now so that this Fall is a season of flourishing?
STEP 4: RESPOND
Every Psalm is an invitation to trust and loving obedience. From your conversation with God today through this guide, how are you (& your community) going to respond? Try to summarize in one sentence how Jesus is inviting you to live this week during our Sabbath month.
STEP 5: REST
In the True Story of the World, rest is not a reward for hard work but rather the starting place for engaging with God’s world. God rested on the 7th day and he invited us into that rest before he sent us out to cultivate His creation alongside Him. - Charlie Meo
As you go this week, would you operate from a place of grace not guilt and abundance not scarcity. Would your pace be slow and would you linger in moments so that God might surprise you with His presence.
Read these words aloud as a benediction:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
For More Equippings Visit: Missio Dei Mesa’s YouTube or our Website