Introduction and Psalm 1, Known by God

Reading the Psalms as a prayer book is as ancient as the authors who were inspired to write and share these words with the family of God. I invite you to take the psalms into our heart and meditate on these words as our own prayer language. The Psalms teach us to see the world as it is, a place often hostile to faith and the people of God. The Psalms remind us of who God is, the creator of life and love. My prayer is that you are able to find comfort, hope, joy, and increased faith as you see God’s love expressed for you in his Word.

The devotions that follow were written as part of my own morning devotional time with the Lord. The pattern I use is to pray and ask the Lord to meet with me as I meditate on his word. I then open the Psalms and read for understanding, usually reading it multiple times. I then journal my thoughts and prayers reflecting on how the Psalm would relate to my own faith journey and daily life. I finish my devotion time in the Psalms with a prayer of praise and asking for any thing I need from my Heavenly Father.

Day one in this devotion book will serve as an example of this method. The days that follow will provide a reflection and a prayer that are to be used to stimulate your own Morning in the Psalms.

January 1

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, I ask for you to meet with me this morning as I read your word. I want to know you better. Make known to me your will for my life. Help me be focused on your word and may my meditation open up ways to grow in my faith. Thank you for your love. Amen.

Bible Reading

Read the Psalm and then record a reflection of your own thoughts and prayers from the Psalm. Go deeper by reading from various translations. Record any questions you have about the verses for later study.

Psalm 1:1–6 ESV

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Reflection: Known By God

To know God and to be known by God. That is the cry of my heart.

To delight in the word of God and for me to know that God delights in me his child.

To allow my spirit to be transformed by the Spirit of God as I join with him in communion day and night.

To grow rooted in the stream of the Lord’s songs that flow from heaven.

To bear fruit in my life that honors the God who planted the seeds of faith, hope, and love.

To remain steady and right and whole alive in the Spirit.

To sorrow in the pains of this world and its wickedness.

To hold onto justice and let God be God even when the wrong is winning the daily battles.

To trust that God holds a place in his forever family a congregation that will sing the songs of love and redemption into eternity.

Prayer

Holy Father, I want to know you more every day of my life. Thank you for calling me into your family and knowing me as your child. May my heart meditate upon your words. May your grace and mercy fill my life to overflowing. Guide me with your Holy Spirit and lead me in your ways. Amen.

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