Proverbs 17:24: A verse to pray, ponder, and memorize

Day 14 Psalm 1:2

Day 14 Psalm 1:2

EXPLANATION OF SLOWNESS OF THE SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY THROUGH PSALM 1 AND 2
Today, we will continue looking at the cross-references for Psalm 1:2. We've been taking it at a slow pace in order that we might meditate on the Word day and night where I lave tried not to overwhelm us, but give us a great deal to meditate on because we can remember it.
Moreover, we are also having our daily Bible reading, so we are getting more of the Bible than just the Psalms and just the cross-references. That being said, it's important to meditate on what God reveals to us throughout the day in His Word, whether through this devotional Bible study, or through our daily Bible reading, so it's a good idea to do things in smaller chunks so we can remember what to meditate on. I hope that helps.
The more we meditate on the Word of God, the Bible, the more blessed we will be (see Psalm 1).

ANOTHER DAILY BIBLE READING OPTION
Here's a source I've used for several years now. I just wanted to share this daily Bible reading option with you in case you might be interested. I subscribe to the email and really enjoy it. It does not give you a reading to cover every single chapter and verse of the bible, though, be warned. So, what I do is I keep the previous day's email and see what today's email is and I read the chapters and verses in-between. That way, I read through the Bible in a year.
It's called Bible Pathway and here it is to look at:

http://www.oneplace.com/devotionals/bible-pathway/

What I like about it is how it gives me some background and commentary and gives me things, places, people to pray for each day. Also, there's optional reading, options for further study, and a weekly memory verse. It also gives a thought for the day. At least look at it. I guarantee you'll get a great deal out of it.
I save all of these for Bible study later. If I'm doing a study on the book of Mark, I do a search in my email for "Bible Pathways Mark" and they pop up and I can study about Mark. The same goes with topics. For example, if I want to do a study on grace or love or something like that--and with character studies of people (like Barnabas or Paul or David). It's been an incredible study tool beyond the daily Bible readings.

CROSS-REFERENCES

Let's first review the cross-references we discovered on Days 12-13. Let's go back and look again at the reading from this book, along with the verses and our prayer journaling. Prayer journal anything else that comes to mind at this point.
Now, let's continue.
Psalm 119:14 is another cross-reference. Let's look it up in our favorite version and prayer journal about each of the following:
1 What jumps out at you?
2 What does this verse mean?
3 What did you learn?
4 What can you apply to your life, if anything? And, if so, how will you do it and when?
5 How does this expand your understanding for Psalm 1:2?
6 What did God say to you?
7 What did you say to God?  

Seriously. Do you want to rush ahead and read several other cross-references? Or, would you like to linger here for a bit and meditate on this verse day and night? Let's linger. 

Prayer journal your thoughts.

Synonyms: Any time you read law, laws, rules, regulations, testimonies, etc., substitute Bible, Word of God, and/or Scripture. 

Psalm 119:14 / New Living Translation (NLT)
14 I have rejoiced in your laws
    as much as in riches.  

-- NLT: Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.  

Prayer journal about each of the following:
1 What jumps out at you?
2 What does this verse mean?
3 What did you learn?
4 What can you apply to your life, if anything? And, if so, how will you do it and when?
5 How does this expand your understanding for Psalm 1:2?
6 What did God say to you?
7 What did you say to God?  

Psalm 119:14 / Expanded Bible (EXB)
14 I enjoy ·living by your rules [the way of your decrees/testimonies]
    as people enjoy great riches. 

--  EXB: Scripture taken from The Expanded Bible. Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.  

Prayer journal about each of the following:
1 What jumps out at you?
2 What does this verse mean?
3 What did you learn?
4 What can you apply to your life, if anything? And, if so, how will you do it and when?
5 How does this expand your understanding for Psalm 1:2?
6 What did God say to you?
7 What did you say to God?   

Psalm 119:14 is the key verse / The Message (MSG)
9-16 How can a young person live a clean life?
    By carefully reading the map of your Word.
I’m single-minded in pursuit of you;
    don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted.
I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart
    so I won’t sin myself bankrupt.
Be blessed, God;
    train me in your ways of wise living.
I’ll transfer to my lips
    all the counsel that comes from your mouth;
I delight far more in what you tell me about living
    than in gathering a pile of riches.
I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you,
    I attentively watch how you’ve done it.
I relish everything you’ve told me of life,

    I won’t forget a word of it. 

-- MSG: Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. 

Prayer journal about each of the following:
1 What jumps out at you?
2 What does this verse mean?
3 What did you learn?
4 What can you apply to your life, if anything? And, if so, how will you do it and when?
5 How does this expand your understanding for Psalm 1:2?
6 What did God say to you?
7 What did you say to God?    

CONCLUSION FOR THE DAY
Prayer journal the following:
What jumped out at you? Why?
What did you say to God?
What did God say to you?
What are you going to apply to your life?
What did you learn?
Write a summary in conclusion for today's devotional Bible study.

Write a prayer to God about all of this.  

Day 13 Psalm 1:2

Day 13 Psalm 1:2

CROSS-REFERENCES
Let's first review the cross-references we discovered on Day 12. Let's go back and look again at the reading from this book, along with the verses and our prayer journaling. Prayer journal anything else that comes to mind at this point.
Now, let's continue.
Psalm 25:5 is another cross-reference. Let's look it up in our favorite version and prayer journal about each of the following:
1 What jumps out at you?
2 What does this verse mean?
3 What did you learn?
4 What can you apply to your life, if anything? And, if so, how will you do it and when?
5 How does this expand your understanding for Psalm 1:2?
6 What did God say to you?
7 What did you say to God?

Psalm 63:4-6 / Names of God Bible (NOG)
4 So I will thank you as long as I live.
    I will lift up my hands to pray in your name.
5 You satisfy my soul with the richest foods.
    My mouth will sing your praise with joyful lips.
6 As I lie on my bed, I remember you.
    Through the long hours of the night, I think about you.  

-- NOG: Scripture is taken from NAMES OF GOD BIBLE (WITHOUT NOTES) ®, © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.

Let's look up the previous cross-reference verse in our favorite version and prayer journal about each of the following:
1 What jumps out at you?
2 What does this verse mean?
3 What did you learn?
4 What can you apply to your life, if anything? And, if so, how will you do it and when?
5 How does this expand your understanding for Psalm 1:2?
6 What did God say to you?
7 What did you say to God?

Psalm 112:1 / Expanded Bible (EXB)
112  Praise the Lord!
Happy [Blessed] are those who ·respect [fear] the Lord [Prov. 1:7;31:30],

who ·want [take great delight in] ·what he [his] commands.  

-- EXB: Scripture taken from The Expanded Bible. Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.  

Let's look up the previous cross-reference verse in our favorite version and prayer journal about each of the following:

1 What jumps out at you?

2 What does this verse mean? 

3 What did you learn?

4 What can you apply to your life, if anything? And, if so, how will you do it and when? 

5 How does this expand your understanding for Psalm 1:2?

6 What did God say to you? 

7 What did you say to God?

CONCLUSION FOR THE DAY

Prayer journal the following:

What jumped out at you? Why?

What did you say to God?

What did God say to you?

What are you going to apply to your life?

What did you learn?

Write a summary in conclusion for today's devotional Bible study.

Write a prayer to God about all of this. 

Day 12 Psalm 1:2

Day 12 Psalm 1:2

Psalm 1:2 / New Living Translation (NLT)
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,
    meditating on it day and night.  
-- NLT: Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.  
Prayer journal your thoughts, anything god says to you, and anything you say to God. 
Note: Never skip prayer journaling. It is a time you are intentionally in the presence of God. Therefore, it is something to take full advantage of whenever you have the opportunity. This is even more true when regarding the Word of God, the Holy Bible. The Bible is God's Word to us. Hence, it's not something we should take lightly, skim, or read fast. We should always take our time and make sure each word, and its meaning, some to mind. We should remain open to God and hear His guidance. Hence, here, prayer journal a reminder, if nothing else, or something you've already written and prayed to God. 

So far, we've done: 1 FIRST READING with this study. Now, let's look at:

2 PRAY THE WORD
This is where we pray the verse back to God. Hence, we prayer journal it in our own words to God, after we look up at least four versions of the Bible (we've read four versions so far, by the way), but preferably seven. I highly recommend looking up both the Expanded Bible and the Amplified Bible Versions: 

1  EXB: Scripture taken from The Expanded Bible. Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.  

2  Amplified Bible (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

Now, let's pray the Word:

Write your prayer of this verse in your prayer journal. Make it a personalized version of this verse. Then, read mine.
Prayer: Lord, help me to delight in the Bible, Your Word, and meditate on it and ponder it night and day.  Teach me what this means and how to do it.
2a Word by word

Prayer journal a prayer that focuses on each of the words of Psalm 1:2. Make sure to make these prayers personal. Don't worry about focusing on the word 'the' or 'a.' Do focus on the word 'and,' along with 'or.' 

2b phrase by phrase

Now, do the same, but with each phrase.

2c line by line

Now, do the same, but with each line.
2d the entire verse

Now, do the same, but with the entire verse once again.

3 CROSS-REFERENCES OF PSALM 1:2

Look up each of these verses. Then, prayer journal about them. 

Prayer journal each of these segments for each verse: what jumps out to you about each verse, what God says to you, what you say to God, what you will apply to your life, how this deepens your understanding of Psalm 1:2, and anything else that comes to mind or in your heart. 

Genesis 24:63 

Joshua 1:8 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
8 This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to reciteit day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.  

-- HCSB: Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.  

Joshua 1:8 / GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
8 Never stop reciting these teachings. You must think about them night and day so that you will faithfully do everything written in them. Only then will you prosper and succeed.  

-- GW: Scripture is taken from GOD’S WORD®, © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.  

CONCLUSION FOR THE DAY

Prayer journal the following:

What jumped out at you? Why?

What did you say to God?

What did God say to you?

What are you going to apply to your life?

What did you learn?

Write a summary in conclusion for today's devotional Bible study.

Write a prayer to God about all of this. 

Day 11 Psalm 1:2 (Cont.)

Day 11 Psalm 1:2 (Cont.)

I look forward to another day of pondering this verse and seeing what God reveals. 

To where and to whom do I go to find my delight? What an honest, penetrating question. I can avoid it and avoid the uncomfortable feeling it brings or realize that the instinct to ignore the question and run from it is actually a sign I need to address it. And, I should address it fully, head-on, immediately, and linger there for a bit to make sure I get to all of the reasons it makes me want to cringe. 

To where and do whom do I go to find my delight?

Writing is one. My husband is another. Journaling is another--and so are getting lost in reading a book or watching a television show or movie, family, exercise, food, coffee, crafts, photography, friends, etc. They are all things I turn to for my delight. Then, I wonder why at times it isn't fulfilling and why I'm left with the feeling I want more and like those just simply aren't enough. Well... Isn't that telling me something? They aren't enough. There are only three things that can bring me fulfillment. Period. End of story. God, the Word, and eternity. Nothing else can. No one else can. 

Now, why don't I live like this were the truth all the time? Why do I try to find delight elsewhere? Every single time I do, without fail, I fall flat on my face. I realize all over again I mess up because I don't get it quite right. 

My only delight can be found in God (Jesus and the Holy Spirit, too, of course), the Word, and in eternity. 

Period. 

Any questions? 

Lord, help me to Prayer: learn this through constant reading, studying, and thinking on your Word, the Bible. 

Prayer journal your thoughts. 

Day 10 Psalm 1:2, Part 1

Day 10 Psalm 1:2, Part 1

1 FIRST READING  
Today marks the first part of working on, studying, reading, and praying to the Lord Psalm 1:2. I'm rather excited to see what new information we are going to glean from this study, I do not know about you.
So, let's read Psalm 1:1-1:2 (or Psalms 1:1-2) in our favorite version of the Bible at this point and see where God wants to lead us. Then, prayer journal your thoughts.
Afterward, prayer journal about whatever jumped out at you and why. Also, prayer journal what you learned, any questions you might have, anything God said to you, anything you said to God, and anything you want to apply to your life.
We are to ponder, contemplate, chew on, think about, meditate, and ruminate on the Bible 24/7/365. The Word of God is worthy of thinking of and centering our thoughts and lives on--more than anything or anyone else. 

Psalm 1:2 / Expanded Bible (EXB)
2 They ·love [delight in] the Lord’s ·teachings [laws; instructions],
and they ·think about [meditate on] those ·teachings [laws; instructions] day and night.  
-- EXB: Scripture taken from The Expanded Bible. Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 

Prayer journal any new information you learned through reading this translation of the Bible.
How can I fall in love with the Bible and find it my delight? That's what I want to know. I'm not talking lip-service, wishful hoping thinking type of love (just made up that phrase, but I hope you know what I mean). I'm talking the deep, intimate, delightful type of love of the Word of God. 

Question: I want to forge this type of love with Scripture. So, how do I do it? I seriously have no idea. 

Psalm 1:2 / The Message (MSG)

2 Instead you thrill to God’s Word,
    you chew on Scripture day and night.
--  MSG: Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. 

Prayer journal any new information you learned through reading this translation of the Bible.   

Answer: I left off, in the previous section, with the question of: How do I forge a deep, intimate, delightful, thrilling love with the Word of God? I don't know about you, but I think the answer is the second part of that verse. It's through thinking about, chewing on, and meditating on the Bible night and day. 

I hope to foster this type of relationship with the Scripture where I do meditate on it day and night for an entire day--and then a couple of days, and then a a week, then a month, then a quarter, then six months, then a year, then decades. I bet at some point, that's when the Bible will become my delight. 

So, what about you? What do you think? Prayer journal your answer to the question and then prayer journal any thoughts you have. 

Psalm 1:2 / GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
2 Rather, he delights in the teachings of the Lord
    and reflects on his teachings day and night. 

--   GW: Scripture is taken from GOD’S WORD®, © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.
Prayer journal any new information you learned through reading this translation of the Bible.    

CONCLUSION: WRITE A SUMMARY

Prayer journal about what you prayer journaled about today, what you read, and Psalm 1:2 through answering these questions about all of it and make a summary in the process of Today's devotional Bible Study. What jumps out at you? Why does it jump out at you?

What questions do you have?
How does this inspire and motivate you?
What does this mean to you and your life?
How can you apply this to your life—starting today? Write out an action plan to apply this to your life.
Why is this important to me to remember?
What am I saying to God?
What is God saying to me?

Write a summary.

Write a prayer out to God.
Take your time and be thorough as you re-read and prayer journal and readings.