Psalm 1: 1-2
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in His Law he meditates day and night.
We see a progression here, from walking to standing to sitting. Once we start on something inertia carries us along, so we need to be careful to pay attention to what we're doing, what we're believing, and what and Who we're trusting in.
If we're just following our own ideas (because, after all, we're smart), then they probably aren't God's ways, because His ways are so far above ours that we need Him to lead us.
When we turn to the Lord and His Word; and we read it and study it, and think about it continually; then we will know what to ask Him for, what He wants to give us, and we will expect to receive His blessings and enjoy His bounty.
Do you have children? Don't you want to see them living good lives, enjoying what they have? God is a Good Father, a loving Parent, Who wants to see us enjoying what He provides, too.
We can get swept up in the wrath God pours out on the World that rejects Him; but if we are paying attention to what is going on around us, then we can "come out" of where people are about to be judged by the weather or climactic events (Revelation 18:4), separating ourselves from their practices and their presence.
We are told to run away from the temptations to sin (I Corinthians 6:18; 10:14; I Timothy 6:11; II Timothy 2:22), and to put on the Armor of God to resist and fight the Enemy (James 4:7; Ephesians 6:10-17).
That way we will be open to receiving the Good God wants to give us, and we will be able to rejoice, even in hardship or downturns.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
