October 14 Planted and Blessed
Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 11–12, Psalm 1, Acts 2
Scripture Focus:
“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.”
— Psalm 1:1–2 (NKJV)
When revival came in Nehemiah’s day, it didn’t stop with the reading of the Word—it moved hearts to respond. In chapter 11, some people volunteered to move into Jerusalem, leaving behind their settled homes to rebuild life where God’s presence dwelled. They did it because they saw how worthy God was. They had spiritual insight—they wanted to be close to His work, no matter the cost.
Then in Nehemiah 12, we see a genealogical record that honors the first priests who returned with Zerubbabel. It’s like looking through an old church registry—remembering those faithful ones who started the work generations earlier.
👉 Nehemiah 12 reminds us that God’s work is generational: from Zerubbabel and Jeshua → to Ezra → to Nehemiah.
Each generation built on the faithfulness of the last. Some began rebuilding, others restored worship, and others kept the fire burning 🔥—but every part mattered in God’s unfolding plan.
That same heart shows up in Psalm 1.
The Hebrew Word for “Blessed”
The Hebrew word for “blessed” is אַשְׁרֵי (’ashrê), from אָשַׁר (’ashar), meaning to go straight, to advance, to be right, to be happy or fulfilled.
💡 It carries the idea of deep, inward joy that comes from walking on the right path—a joy not based on circumstances but on living in harmony with God’s ways.
So when Psalm 1 says,
My Story
I experienced this in one of the hardest seasons of my life. I had a supervisor who treated me unfairly and made work grievous. I didn’t understand why, but every morning before work, I ran to God’s Word. The Lord would prepare my heart for what lay ahead, shape my attitude, and remind me to walk in grace. Then in the evening, His Word would comfort me again.
Even though the situation didn’t change right away, my heart did. God’s Word kept me steady. Like that tree planted by streams of water, I found peace and strength in His presence day after day. 🌿
Being blessed doesn’t mean having an easy life—it means being rooted so deeply in God’s Word that your heart stays aligned with His, no matter the season.
Psalm 1:1–2 – Insights
1️⃣ The Progression of Compromise
Notice the movement—walk, stand, sit.
It’s a slow drift. First, we walk near ungodly influence, then we stand still and start agreeing with it, and finally we sit down and make it home.
Sin rarely rushes in—it creeps in through comfort.
The blessed person resists that pull by refusing to let worldly voices shape their thinking.
🪞 Cross-reference: Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
⸻
2️⃣ The Delight of the Word
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord…”
The Hebrew word חֵפֶץ (chephets) means to take pleasure in, to desire, to treasure.
This isn’t a forced duty; it’s love.
When we delight in God’s Word, we find joy in what pleases Him, and His truth begins to shape our desires.
🕊️ Cross-reference: Jeremiah 15:16 – “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.”
⸻
3️⃣ The Discipline of Meditation
“And in His law he meditates day and night.”
The Hebrew word for meditate is הָגָה (hagah), meaning to murmur, ponder, speak softly to oneself.
It’s the picture of someone chewing on Scripture—thinking on it until it becomes part of them.
Day and night doesn’t mean every waking second; it means consistently, continually—making God’s Word the rhythm of your life.
🌅 Morning Word = alignment.
🌙 Evening Word = reflection and peace.
⸻
4️⃣ The Result
When we avoid compromise, delight in His truth, and meditate on it continually, verse 3 says we become:
Rooted. Nourished. Unmoved. Fruitful.
That’s the picture of a life anchored in God.
Devoted
What a powerful word. That’s what we need more of these days—hearts that are devoted.
The early church didn’t just gather; they persisted. They were steadfast in the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42).
That kind of devotion builds strength, unity, and spiritual fruit.
It’s the same devotion we see in those who volunteered to live in Jerusalem and in the one who delights in the law of the Lord.
Devotion keeps us planted when the world is shifting. 🌿
Just like the volunteers in Nehemiah’s day who devoted themselves to rebuilding where God dwelled, the early church in Acts 2:42 devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. The same pattern appears across Scripture—those who are planted in God’s Word naturally grow into a community of worship and obedience. Psalm 1 shows the blessed individual rooted in the Word; Acts 2 shows the blessed body rooted together in truth. Both reveal that true revival begins with devotion—to His Word, His people, and His presence. 🌿
Lesson for Me
God’s Word isn’t just instruction—it’s nourishment. If I want stability, peace, and fruitfulness, I can’t live on occasional visits to Scripture. I must plant my life in it—day and night. Revival always starts with the Word, but it continues through obedience. 🌿
Application Questions
Prayer 🙏
Lord, thank You for showing me that true blessing isn’t found in comfort or approval but in Your Word. Help me guard my heart from compromise, find my joy in Your truth, and meditate on it day and night. Make me like that tree planted by Your living water—rooted, fruitful, and unshakable in every season. Teach me to be devoted—to Your Word, to prayer, and to Your people. Amen.
Journaling Reminder ✍️
Sit quietly before the Lord and let Him speak to your heart.
Journal what He shows you about your roots—what’s feeding your soul, and what He wants to strengthen or change so you can remain firmly planted in Him.
Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 11–12, Psalm 1, Acts 2
Scripture Focus:
“And the people commended everyone who volunteered to resettle in Jerusalem.”
— Nehemiah 11:2 (NLT)
“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.”
— Psalm 1:1–2 (NKJV)
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
— Acts 2:42 (NIV)
When revival came in Nehemiah’s day, it didn’t stop with the reading of the Word—it moved hearts to respond. In chapter 11, some people volunteered to move into Jerusalem, leaving behind their settled homes to rebuild life where God’s presence dwelled. They did it because they saw how worthy God was. They had spiritual insight—they wanted to be close to His work, no matter the cost.
Then in Nehemiah 12, we see a genealogical record that honors the first priests who returned with Zerubbabel. It’s like looking through an old church registry—remembering those faithful ones who started the work generations earlier.
👉 Nehemiah 12 reminds us that God’s work is generational: from Zerubbabel and Jeshua → to Ezra → to Nehemiah.
Each generation built on the faithfulness of the last. Some began rebuilding, others restored worship, and others kept the fire burning 🔥—but every part mattered in God’s unfolding plan.
That same heart shows up in Psalm 1.
The Hebrew Word for “Blessed”
The Hebrew word for “blessed” is אַשְׁרֵי (’ashrê), from אָשַׁר (’ashar), meaning to go straight, to advance, to be right, to be happy or fulfilled.
💡 It carries the idea of deep, inward joy that comes from walking on the right path—a joy not based on circumstances but on living in harmony with God’s ways.
So when Psalm 1 says,
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,”
it’s really saying, Oh, how joyful, fulfilled, and steady is the one who lives according to God’s truth!
My Story
I experienced this in one of the hardest seasons of my life. I had a supervisor who treated me unfairly and made work grievous. I didn’t understand why, but every morning before work, I ran to God’s Word. The Lord would prepare my heart for what lay ahead, shape my attitude, and remind me to walk in grace. Then in the evening, His Word would comfort me again.
Even though the situation didn’t change right away, my heart did. God’s Word kept me steady. Like that tree planted by streams of water, I found peace and strength in His presence day after day. 🌿
Being blessed doesn’t mean having an easy life—it means being rooted so deeply in God’s Word that your heart stays aligned with His, no matter the season.
Psalm 1:1–2 – Insights
1️⃣ The Progression of Compromise
Notice the movement—walk, stand, sit.
It’s a slow drift. First, we walk near ungodly influence, then we stand still and start agreeing with it, and finally we sit down and make it home.
Sin rarely rushes in—it creeps in through comfort.
The blessed person resists that pull by refusing to let worldly voices shape their thinking.
🪞 Cross-reference: Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
⸻
2️⃣ The Delight of the Word
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord…”
The Hebrew word חֵפֶץ (chephets) means to take pleasure in, to desire, to treasure.
This isn’t a forced duty; it’s love.
When we delight in God’s Word, we find joy in what pleases Him, and His truth begins to shape our desires.
🕊️ Cross-reference: Jeremiah 15:16 – “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.”
⸻
3️⃣ The Discipline of Meditation
“And in His law he meditates day and night.”
The Hebrew word for meditate is הָגָה (hagah), meaning to murmur, ponder, speak softly to oneself.
It’s the picture of someone chewing on Scripture—thinking on it until it becomes part of them.
Day and night doesn’t mean every waking second; it means consistently, continually—making God’s Word the rhythm of your life.
🌅 Morning Word = alignment.
🌙 Evening Word = reflection and peace.
⸻
4️⃣ The Result
When we avoid compromise, delight in His truth, and meditate on it continually, verse 3 says we become:
“Like a tree planted by rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season…”
Rooted. Nourished. Unmoved. Fruitful.
That’s the picture of a life anchored in God.
Devoted
What a powerful word. That’s what we need more of these days—hearts that are devoted.
The early church didn’t just gather; they persisted. They were steadfast in the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42).
That kind of devotion builds strength, unity, and spiritual fruit.
It’s the same devotion we see in those who volunteered to live in Jerusalem and in the one who delights in the law of the Lord.
Devotion keeps us planted when the world is shifting. 🌿
Just like the volunteers in Nehemiah’s day who devoted themselves to rebuilding where God dwelled, the early church in Acts 2:42 devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. The same pattern appears across Scripture—those who are planted in God’s Word naturally grow into a community of worship and obedience. Psalm 1 shows the blessed individual rooted in the Word; Acts 2 shows the blessed body rooted together in truth. Both reveal that true revival begins with devotion—to His Word, His people, and His presence. 🌿
Lesson for Me
God’s Word isn’t just instruction—it’s nourishment. If I want stability, peace, and fruitfulness, I can’t live on occasional visits to Scripture. I must plant my life in it—day and night. Revival always starts with the Word, but it continues through obedience. 🌿
Application Questions
- Where am I walking, standing, or sitting where worldly thinking influences me more than God’s Word?
- What changes when I start my day rooted in Scripture rather than in worry or distraction?
- How can I live more devoted—to the Word, to prayer, and to fellowship like the early church?
Prayer 🙏
Lord, thank You for showing me that true blessing isn’t found in comfort or approval but in Your Word. Help me guard my heart from compromise, find my joy in Your truth, and meditate on it day and night. Make me like that tree planted by Your living water—rooted, fruitful, and unshakable in every season. Teach me to be devoted—to Your Word, to prayer, and to Your people. Amen.
Journaling Reminder ✍️
Sit quietly before the Lord and let Him speak to your heart.
Journal what He shows you about your roots—what’s feeding your soul, and what He wants to strengthen or change so you can remain firmly planted in Him.