That’s My Psalm: One (Good) Way

Psalm 1 | A Worship-Filled Reflection

We live in a world full of endless advice.

Scroll through your feed for just a few seconds and you’ll hear things like: “Follow your heart.” “Live your truth.” “Do what makes you happy.”

Our culture offers countless versions of the “good life”—but they often lead to disappointment, emptiness, or even destruction.

Scripture Focus: Psalm 1

Psalm 1 interrupts all that noise from others with a bold truth: There are only two paths in life. One leads to ruin. The other leads to a real, lasting blessing. And the difference between the two? It all comes down to where you’re planted and what you find joy in.

The Way of the Righteous is Rooted (Psalm 1:1–3)

In Psalm 1, God starts by telling us what not to do, but not because He wants to control us. It’s because He knows what hurts us. He warns us about making small choices that lead us further away from Him. First, we might walk with bad advice, then stand with people who make wrong choices, and finally, sit with those who mock everything good. What starts off as small steps of compromise can turn into a whole new way of living.

But… just saying “no” to bad things isn’t enough. The blessed person doesn’t just avoid bad choices—they also say yes to God’s Word. They don’t just read it—they love it and think about it all the time. Like a tree next to a river, they’re strong, healthy, and always producing good fruit.

You won’t meditate on what you don’t delight in. And what you delight in will eventually define you.

God’s Word isn’t just good advice—it’s living water. The more rooted we are in it, the more resistant we are to dry seasons, toxic influences, and spiritual burnout.

The Way of the Wicked is Wasted (Psalm 1:4–5)

The righteous in Psalm 1, are like trees planted firmly in the ground, strong and steady. But the wicked? They’re like chaff—which is just the useless part of the grain that gets blown away with the slightest wind. Even if they seem successful for a little while, their lives have no real weight or lasting foundation.

And here’s the important part: when the Bible talks about the wicked, it’s not just talking about the worst people. It’s talking about anyone who ignores God’s Word and decides to do things their own way. So, even if their life looks perfect on the outside, if it’s not built on God’s truth, it won’t last.

What looks like freedom might just be a freefall.

Without roots in the Word, everything becomes temporary. And at the end of the day, we’re reminded: short-term gain isn’t worth eternal loss.

The Way the Lord Watches is Blessed (Psalm 1:6)

Here’s the best part: God isn’t far away, watching from a distance. He’s right here, involved in our lives, caring for us. He watches over those who live righteously—not like a cold, distant boss—but like a loving Father. His presence is with us when we choose to walk with Him.

Psalm 1 is not about following a set of rules; it’s about following a Person, and that Person’s name is Jesus. Jesus is the only one who ever perfectly loved God’s Word and always did the right thing. He didn’t give in to temptation, he stayed rooted in God’s truth, and bore good fruit all through His life. Because of His death and resurrection, we can now be planted in Him and grow strong, like a tree, drawing life from His streams of grace.

At the cross, Jesus was cast out like chaff so that we could be planted like trees.

Put This Psalm On Repeat

The blessed life isn’t found in hustle, hype, or hollow advice. It’s found in the way of delight—rooted deep in God’s Word, watered by His presence, and steady in every season.

Psalm 1 doesn’t offer a shortcut—it offers security.

• You won’t always get applause.

• You won’t always feel stable.

• You don’t need a new path.

• You need a deeper root.

• You don’t need to chase influence.

• You need to chew on His Word.

• You don’t need to do more.

• You need to delight more.

But if you’re planted in Him, you’ll flourish anyway. (Psalm 1:3)

Let Jesus be your portion—not the platform, not the relationship, not the paycheck. Just Him. Only Him.

There’s only One (Good) Way—and it’s always worth it.

Stay planted. Stay fed. Stay flourishing.