This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”, with a mini-series within it entitled “Focusing on the Word”. We are still dealing with the first half of the first psalm. Let’s go back to it today. The Bible says:
(Psalm 1:1-3 KJV) “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
(Psalm 1:1-3 ERV) “Great blessings belong to those who don’t listen to evil advice, who don’t live like sinners, and who don’t join those who make fun of God. Instead, they love the Lord’s teachings and think about them day and night. So they grow strong, like a tree planted by a stream—a tree that produces fruit when it should and has leaves that never fall. Everything they do is successful.”
For the last few days we have been focusing in on the line: “Whatsoever he doeth shall prosper”, or “Everything they do is successful.” It is easy to key-in on any scripture that says we will succeed. But we must look at the context. The Father says we will succeed — where literally everything we do prospers — but only after telling us what not to do, whom not to connect with, and what to give our attention to… DAY and NIGHT! Now, if we are obedient to the Lord and we heed His counsel, then yes, we can get to the point where everything we do succeeds.
This morning I thought about God’s motivation. The Father goes out of His way to teach us how to live. He left us 66 books of divine counsel. He tell us what to do and not to do. He gives us supernatural insight to meditate on. His Word provides information, education, inspiration, and illumination. Not only that, but then His Spirit provides insight, counsel and revelation from the inside-out. God does all of this because He loves us. He does not give us “dos” and “don’ts” to control us. He does it because He wants us to be blessed. He wants us to enjoy His best. He wants us to fulfill our divine purpose. He wants us to become the men/women He called, destined, designed and desires for us to be. What’s out part? OBEDIENCE. I know obedience may be a ‘bad word’ for some. But it’s easy to obey God when you know He loves you and He wants nothing but His best for your life.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Your heavenly Father does not give you instruction to control you. He does it because He wants to bless you. He wants you to live your life in alignment with heaven, so you can experience heaven-on-earth.
2. Your heavenly Father does not give you “dos” and “don’ts” in an attempt to manipulate you. He does it because He loves you. As your Father He wants to see you succeed. He wants you to embrace those things that will take you down the road to His best, and to shun those things that will derail you from your destiny.
3. The Apostle John, while writing about the love of God, said, “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love” (1 Jn 4:16). Another translation reads, “We believe His love.”
a. When you believe God loves you it becomes easy to do what He says, even when His instructions trump your desires.
b. When you believe God loves you it becomes easier to die to self, giving up your plans for His.
c. When you truly believe God loves you it becomes much easier to trust Him, even when you don’t know what He’s doing!
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016 by obeying You in all my ways. I put Your will above my own. I place Your purpose above my desires. I submit. I cooperate. I obey. I die. I minimize me and my humanity, so You can maximize You and Your divinity IN, WITH and THROUGH me. You love me with an everlasting love. You love me more than I can truly fathom. You love me and I know it! I know, trust and believe Your love. Therefore, I do what You say. Whatever You tell me to say, I say it. Whatever You tell me to do, I do it. Wherever You tell me to go, I am there! My life is not my own. I give You my life, ALL OF IT, and You give me the life You planned for me from the foundations of the world! I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
