Monday January 26. Psalm 1:1-3

Have you ever noticed that when you spend a lot of time in a certain place, or with a certain person, you find yourself talking and acting like the people from that place?

This happens to my family all the time. We love the Chronicles of Narnia stories, so we were so excited when they started making them into movies. Every time we watch one of those movies we all find ourselves talking in British accents for the next few days.

I’ve also found that when I have taken a class from a teacher that I really enjoyed and deeply respected, I catch myself talking and acting like that teacher.

Does anything like that ever happen to you?

One fact about being human is that we absorb everything around us, all that time, even when we aren’t aware of it. We are like sponges. That means everything you watch, listen to, and spend time with soaks into who you are; and who you are then produces what you do.

It’s like a tree. If a tree is planted in soil that is full of toxins, or sand, then the tree will be weak and spindly, and not produce very good fruit. But, if a tree is planted in nutrient-rich soil and has lots of clean, fresh water, then it will grow strong and healthy and produce luscious fruit that everyone can enjoy.

The question today is this: what are you soaking in most of the time? What feeds your identity? Do you hang around with people who are constantly telling you that you have to do this to be cool, or do that to be worth-while. Do you listen to the media lies that tell you that you need to wear those clothes to be popular, or buy that product to have a happy life?

Or, do you delight yourself in God’s Word. Notice that the Psalm didn’t say, “Blessed are those who obey God’s law and do everything right.” It says, “Blessed are those who delight in God’s Law (God’s Word), and meditate in it (soak in it) day and night.”

Life isn’t about doing the right thing or the wrong thing. Life is about soaking in the right thing. God’s word says that God loves you. When you spend time reading God’s word in scripture; listening to God’s Word through the voice of trusted teachers, mentors and friends; participating in God’s Word by loving others the way that God loves you; then you will be deeply rooted, and whatever you do will be the right thing, because it is the fruit of God’s love.

Where are you rooted today? What messages are you soaking in through your choice of media and conversation? The fact that you are reading this right now means that you probably have a desire to soak in a daily practice of reading and meditating on God’s Word. That’s good.

May you be rooted today in the Word of God that says, “I love you.”