One morning while I was brushing my teeth, I realized that I really didn’t have to say to myself, “Melissa, it’s time to brush your teeth now.” Why not? Because brushing my teeth is something I have been doing since I was old enough to hold a toothbrush. It is just part of my daily routine. In fact, I wouldn’t think of leaving the house without doing it. I have made it part of my life.
Can living God’s Word daily be as simple as brushing our teeth? Yes, it can be, when we make it part of our lives every twenty-four hours. Psalm 1 has three great verses to show us how we can live the Word daily.
Psalms 1:1-3:
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.
We have choices to make each day to “not do this” but to “do this.” We build good habits by making the right choices according to God’s Word throughout a day. When we do, the Word calls us “blessed,” and we prosper. Living the Word daily is simply choosing the Word’s way in the details throughout a day.
With each new day, we have a choice to make. Psalms 1:1 and 2 show us some choices:
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….
Walking in or not walking in the counsel of the ungodly is a choice. Standing in or not standing in the way of sinners is a choice. Sitting in or not sitting in the seat of the scornful is a choice. As we delight in the law of the Lord, in the light of God’s Word, we will freely make godly choices.
Deuteronomy 30:19 and 20 give us another look at a choice we can make daily:
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days….
Life or death and blessing or cursing seem like simple choices to make. Daily we can choose life and blessing!
In another Old Testament record, here is a choice Joshua set before the children of Israel.
Joshua 24:15:
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve….
Joshua said, “Choose you this day….” Then he boldly declared the decision he made.
Joshua 24:15:
…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
With each new day, it’s a personal choice to decide “whom ye will serve.” We can choose life and blessing. It is our freewill choice to serve the Lord, to love God and obey His Word, to delight in the “law of the Lord.” Wherever we are—at home, work, or school—whether we’re by ourselves or with other people, we can choose the Word’s way.
We build good habits by making the right choices according to the Word throughout a day.
Let’s look at Psalm 1 again.
Psalms 1:2:
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
The delight, or desire, of the “man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly” (verse 1) is in the law of the Lord—the Word of God. We also see in verse 2 that he meditates day and night in the Word of God. The Amplified Bible renders the phrase “doth he meditate day and night” as “he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.” In other words, we think, speak, and do the Word habitually each day. We can get to the point where living the Word is just part of our daily routine. Like brushing our teeth, we wouldn’t think of leaving the house without doing it because we’ve made it part of our lives.
It’s in the details of a day that choices come up for us to build good habits. Let’s look at just a few examples of some details of a day and perhaps add others that we think of on our own.
What better place to start building good habits than the morning? The first thing I do in the morning is open my curtains so I can see the beautiful sunrise. I live amid the farmlands of Ohio where I can see the morning sun’s gorgeous hues of orange, yellow, and red burst through the woods in winter after the trees have shed their leaves. The colorful light sparkles as it reflects off the snow that blankets the open fields in the distance. This breathtaking view of the sun coming up in the morning reminds me that I have a brand-new day to choose to live God’s Word in my thoughts, words, and deeds.
Lamentations 3:22 and 23:
It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
God’s mercies and compassions are new every morning. Yesterday is over; it’s in the past. Today is a new day! That’s what I tell myself. We can enjoy a fresh new start first thing in the morning. God’s love never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; His compassions fail not. “Great is thy faithfulness.” What awesome truths to call to mind right away when we see that beautiful sun first thing in the morning.
Psalms 5:3:
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
As we get ready for the day, we thank God for it. We pray for our loved ones and the things we have planned for the day. The Word tells us in Mark 1:35 that Jesus Christ prayed at the start of his day: “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”
At the start of our children’s day, we can prepare them to live the Word in the situations that will come up in their lives too.
Deuteronomy 6:7:
And thou shalt teach them [God’s commandments] diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
We can encourage them before they head off to school or to their various activities. As I was growing up, my dad would often remind my brothers, my sisters, and me at the breakfast table, especially on Mondays after the weekend break from school, “Each day is what you make it.” I’m older now and no longer in school, but I often remind myself of what my dad used to say. Sometimes when I need a little extra encouragement, I add, “So make it great!”
Hebrews 3:13:
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Young people can build good habits of exhorting one another in person or with text messages and instant messaging, choosing words that minister grace to the hearers. One high school student I know sends text messages from her cellular phone to her friends every morning to encourage them. Here are three of the text messages she has sent:
“God loves you and so do I. Remember this verse throughout the day as you claim His promises. Matthew 21:22: ‘And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.’”
“As you go about your day, remember this: don’t give up on God—He never gives up on you. Love you bunches.”
“Remember this quote throughout the day. ‘Nothing is beyond our reach if we will reach beyond ourselves.’ So get out there and give, give, give!”
Words of encouragement like these could be just what a friend needs to help him or her be victorious in a situation. Exhorting one another daily is living the Word.
As our day progresses, we continue choosing the Word’s way.
Colossians 3:23:
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.
When we go to work, we decide to work heartily. We give our employer our best work. We are honest about our time and our lunch breaks. We are good stewards of the equipment we have the privilege of using while on the job. We set good examples for others to follow. We leave the people and places in better shape than when we found them. That’s living the Word.
College students may decide to spend their lunch break with believers from their household fellowship and then witness God’s Word together for a few minutes, giving a godly boost to the middle of their day. With busy schedules, that’s one way to fellowship with like-minded believers and share the Word with someone new.
After supper, perhaps Dad chooses to help out with the kids so Mom can have some quiet time to study God’s Word, put her feet up, or do some things she needs to do for herself as the day winds down.
Another scripture that helps me live the Word in the details of my day is Galatians 6:10:
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
We are to do good to everyone as the occasion arises, as we have opportunity. Occasions arise often! In the checkout line at a grocery store or market, a simple smile may be all the cashier needs to lift him up and improve his day. It’s a simple way we can walk in love to live the Word.
One day while shopping at a local department store, I noticed a woman who looked as if she needed help. She stood there staring at the shelves. At the time, I was in a hurry. I had my whole shopping list in front of me, and I had two more errands to run after this. I should walk right by her, I told myself. But when I saw the discouragement on her face, I realized I was thinking about myself—“I, I, I.” The decision was simple after that. I stopped to help her. Within a few minutes, we found what she needed, and I wasn’t in such a hurry anymore. I finished all my errands in the available time.
I was eating supper at a restaurant with a friend one evening when our waitress said she had a headache and asked if we had any aspirin. I thought about offering to pray for her but wrestled with feelings of embarrassment if she declined and of how I would look in front of my friend. But here was this opportunity, this choice, right in front of me. I decided to put my feelings aside. I told her I didn’t have any aspirin and then offered to pray for her. She said yes as she instantly sat down in our booth! After I said a quick and simple prayer, she continued serving her tables. By the time we left, the waitress bid us good night with a voice of relief and a big smile. Whenever we have the opportunity, we are good unto all.
We see our day all the way through to the evening, and we continue choosing the Word as we go along. We remind ourselves to rejoice and be glad as Psalms 118:24 states: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Then when our heads hit the pillow at night, we can thank God for all He did for us in our day and sleep peacefully.
Psalms 4:8:
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.
We are blessed, and we prosper when we choose the Word’s way in the details of our day.
Let’s go back to Psalm 1.
Psalms 1:1 and 3:
Blessed is the man….
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.
Verse 3 begins with “And he shall be like a tree.” In the beautiful woods at The Way International are trees that have been there for hundreds of years. When I read, “And he shall be like a tree,” I think about those trees in The Way Woods and their longevity and strength. Through the winds and the rains, the drought and humidity, they have stood day after day, year after year. They are abundant in number and abundant with fruit. They are prosperous. No matter what we face in a day, under any condition, when we delight in the Word of God and choose to do it, God calls us “blessed.” The promise of God to us is “whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
Psalms 68:19:
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
God’s commitment is to daily load us with benefits—not just weekly or monthly, but daily!
Psalms 23:6:
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives. This is another wonderful promise from God we can claim daily.
We are blessed when we choose the Word’s way in the details of our day, and we prosper. We enjoy longevity and strength when we delight in God’s Word. Our heavenly Father daily loads us with benefits, and goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives.
Enjoy Psalms 1:1-3 from The Amplified Bible:
Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.
But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.
And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].
Yes, living God’s Word daily can be as simple as brushing our teeth when we make it part of our lives every twenty-four hours. We have choices to make each day. We build good habits by making the right choices according to the Word throughout the day. When we do, we are blessed, and we prosper. Living the Word daily is simply choosing the Word’s way in the details throughout a day. For this day, let’s choose the Word’s way and live it!
This is a reprint from the September/October 2009 issue of The Way Magazine.
Copyright© 2009 by The Way International. All rights reserved.
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