What does “blessed” mean and how do we know if a person is “blessed”? In this episode of the Things Above podcast, James Bryan Smith unpacks Psalm 1 and the blessed life. It turns out, the blessed person is someone who is under God’s blessing, in which God affirms this condition. It also means happy or fulfilled, indicating a strong, positive feeling. Finally, it indicates being intrinsically right, where our inner world is aligned.

What is the condition that leads to this blessing? The psalmist starts with the negative by pointing out three postures. The blessed person does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. What’s important to note here is that this doesn’t describe how God feels about the sinner, but rather the impact of the ungodly on the lives of those who stand in solidarity with them. In other words, the blessed person does not walk or stand or sit with people whose hearts and minds are against God.

Instead, the blessed delight in God’s law (v.2), which refers to God’s will, or the kingdom of God. Those who meditate on the law day and night are setting their minds and hearts on things above. The result of this leads to a blessed life – where our actions are connected our thoughts. We can do this while journeying with people who desire the same, drawing from a constant source of life in God with strong roots and an uninterrupted flow of energy. Key verses include Psalm 1:1-6 (KJV).

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