Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. —Psalm 1:1–2 NIV

Why is it that some people just seem to succeed at nearly everything, while others seem to struggle through life? Some people seem lucky, fortunate, blessed. Their family life is good, their cars keep running, they experience success at work, and they even have good health. Then for others—and I think we’ve all been there from time to time and in different ways—it can feel like just the opposite—always playing catch up, financial stress, relational challenges, the pressure at work, bouts with illness.

Some websites give the following advice for turning your luck around. What makes some people successful? “They don’t make decisions at low points in their lives.” “They have a positive attitude even in tough situations.” “They spend their energy dollars wisely.”

Or here’s some other advice for how to make life work for you: “Be honest with yourself and others.” “Work smarter and get luckier.” “Create lasting relationships.” “Open your mind to the possibilities.”

But this feel-good pop-psychology doesn’t ring entirely true, does it? There may be some value in some of this counsel, but we know there’s more to life than these simple truisms. Work harder, try harder has limited value. There are a lot of other factors—one’s background, education, family connections, being in the right place and the right time, and so forth.

Psalm 1 teaches us about the ultimate factor in human flourishing: paying attention to the instructions for life that the Creator of this world has given. We’re all influenced by something, shaped by something.

Verse 1 reminds us that true blessing comes when we’re not influenced and shaped by those who are opposed to God—whether we’re merely listening to garden-variety sinners or being deeply swayed by mockers who are outright hostile toward God.

Instead, true success and blessing have everything to do with your connection to the Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of this universe. He made the world, and he knows exactly how he made it to work and work best. 

So, Psalm 1 is making promises that life will work a certain way—a very good way, a blessed way for a certain kind of people who live a certain kind of way. Now, this isn’t “giving to get,” that is, trying to delight in God so he will fill your pockets or fulfill your dreams. But this is delighting in the Word of the God who made all of life and whose ways are best.

So, what kind of person gets the blessing that God has promised?

The one who delights in and meditates on God’s instructions. Would you say you delight in God’s Word? If you invest emotional capital in something that cannot repay you, you will lose your investment. You may be reading God’s Word, but you’d say that if you’re honest, your heart is not in it. If that’s you, first ask God to forgive your coldness toward him. Then, ask him to incline your heart toward his Word. Ask him to help you love it more, to help you come to delight in it.

Emotional delight comes as we meditate on God’s Word. The psalm tell’s us that the person is blessed who delights in God’s law and meditates upon it. In eastern mysticism, meditation is emptying the mind. But in Christianity, meditation is filling the mind—it means to think over, consider, and chew on it.

Mere excitement about the Bible can be lots of flash with no food, heat without light. But the Lord wants us to make his good Word the subject of our mental contemplation day in and day out, minute by minute. He wants the Scripture to be our constant mental companion. Sure, there are other responsibilities you have. For most of us, studying the Bible is not our occupation, but it can certainly be our preoccupation.

If you’ve fallen back from spending time in God’s Word, I hope these two verses will encourage you to dive back in—to prayerfully chew over what you’re reading. I pray that the Lord will help his Word fill you with delight. This is where success is found.

This devotional was originally part of a reflection series on the Psalms for the Listening Up podcast, a ministry of Ogletown Baptist Church in Newark, Deleware. Listen at the link below.