Psalm 1

Psalm 1 (NRSV)
1 Happy are those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
or sit in the seat of scoffers;
2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
3 They are like trees
planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.
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 watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
[1]

Lord,
Happiness and prosperity you offer, through the poet, in this ancient Psalm. I pray for these blessings. You know my questions and uncertainties. You know that I wonder about the way in which your promises are fulfilled. Even so, I seek your blessings in abundance.

You offer a way, the way of “The Law of the Lord.” Teach me to live according the law of Christ, that I may love you with every ounce of my being and that I may love my neighbor as I love myself.

In loving my neighbor, I pray that your blessings will pour out on all whom You know to be neighbors to me. Especially, I pray for those for whom blessings seem to be in short supply:

For the victims of natural disaster,
For those born deep in the pits of poverty
For those suffering from rocketing gasoline prices
And hungering from rising food prices
And threatened by unemployment which is neither wanted nor deserved
And living under tyrannical political regimes
For those who suffer due to the negligence of parents
Or have been cheated by the manipulation or betrayal of trusted friends

I pray that the whole world will know the way of the Lord and the blessings that flow through way of Christ.

Lord God, let healing prevail and your mercy flow and let your justice roll down like waters that all of your people may know the fullness of your blessing.

In Christ’s name,
Amen.

Pray for those you know who need God’s grace in special ways.
Name at least 5 blessings for which you are grateful.




[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989