This summer we embarked on a trip I never dreamed of…..We
went to Egypt!!! It was life-changing for me. I learned many things, but what
impacted me the most was our cruise up the Nile River. I have meditated on Psalm
1:1-3 most of my Christianity…..In this setting it became more alive than ever.
Psalm 1:1-3 states – “Blessed is the man who walks not in
the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the
seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law
he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of
living water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall
not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”
I always pictured a tree by a river in the Midwest, since
that is where I am from. The rivers here are usually surrounded by vegetation
as far as the eye can see, (unless it flows through a city). I thought that the
trees right next to the river may
be healthier, but I didn’t know. Then I went to Egypt!!! This is the picture
the psalmist must have been referring to.
On either side of the Nile, the vegetation is lush…palm
trees, banana plants, papyrus, and grasses abound for about 2 or so blocks.
From that point it stops. After that there is nothing except desert. The
concept that became more real to me was how important it is to think about God’s
Word. It is a matter of life and death. I knew this based on other scriptures,
but now I have a vivid depiction of it! Just beside the river is life, beyond
that is stark desert.
The reality is….
spending time meditating on the Word of God
makes all the difference.
We are constantly thinking about something and we
have to choose to think about what God says concerning LIFE. Each time I choose
to give my mind over to the scriptures, I become more free and I grow. I am
like the lush vegetation beside the Nile River.
I encourage you to give your thoughts over to God’s Word.
Spend time meditating on it. It will determine whether you will be in the
desert, where there is death, or with the vegetation, where there is life.
Along the Nile river
