I open to the Psalms, begin at the beginning:

“Blessed is [(s)he] who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly…”

Yes…

I sit back and sigh gratitude!

How blessed!

For (s)he who walks therein is fooled, misled, manipulated, ensnared, and used. And there but for the grace of God (still would) go I!

(S)he who’s out, who walks not there is free!

I’m free — have been set free!

 

“…nor stands in the path of sinners…”

For there you get run over, mowed down — or shoved aside into the gutter — or grabbed and dragged along toward disaster.

 

“…Nor sits in the seat of the scornful…”

Praise to God, by His good grace He led me forth from a place growing darker, so that… 

“I have not sat with men of falsehood, nor will I go in with hypocrites,” I veer away from “the assembly of evil-doers, and will not sit with the wicked” (Ps 26:4-5)!

Tangled in their own peer pressure, mired in elitism sinking to destruction, slinging out negatives bound to swing back around and wallop, to tumble them down.

Chaff in wind, flashing momentary sun brightness in breeze about to waft them away from that most blessed company of all.

O how I thank You my God, who brought me forth into a wide and open place so full of You, and sunk my roots in truth and watered me with shalom, to prosper my leaves and bring forth my fruit in its due season (Psalm 1).

Deep, sweet gratitude. O joy!

Moses liked it better in the wilderness. And so do I.

Here I walk in His counsel, stand in his grace, sit in His presence, pray in His Spirit.

 

When you see their state, how can you not pray for them?

*****

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