August 11 | Psalm 1:1-3

Dave Mann
Aug 11, 2025
2 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

Spiritual Formation

By Dave Mann

How can you grow spiritually? There are many aspects to spiritual formation. One of them is certainly to grow in knowledge of the Word of God and in developing healthy relationships. Psalm1:1-3 is a poetic way of describing such growth and living closer to the Lord.

According to the psalmist, those who wish to grow spiritually will avoid certain activities and relationships which will likely lead us away from God. They will also seek to strengthen other kinds of relationships and behaviors that will lead us in the way of the Lord.

In verse 1, we find that those who want to deepen their spiritual life will avoid certain relationships. They will steer clear of walking, standing, and sitting with (a.k.a. hanging out with) those who will have a negative impact on us. Who are such people who could lead us astray? They are wicked (vile and evil). They are sinners, i.e., those who brazenly disregard God’s commandments. They mock, scoff, and spurn godly instruction.

On the other hand, in verse 2, we read that those who wish to grow closer to God will position themselves in a way that they can easily be instructed by God’s wisdom. They delight, enjoy, and find hope in the teachings of the Lord. They meditate on God’s Word. They acknowledge that they have not exhausted the riches of the Bible. They keep on reading, delving into, and mining the golden nuggets of the Word of God.

Finally, in verse 3, we find that they are like trees planted by streams of water. They sink their roots into the places where they expect to find spiritual nourishment – in Sunday worship, small groups, personal daily Bible reading and in prayer. They are like a tree which yields its fruit in season – that is to say, there is a time when we expect to find positive results in their lives. They are like a tree whose leaf does not wither. And yes, there are times that are hard, and our faith is tested. Engaging in spiritual formation does not mean that we will be insulated from difficulties. Life is sometimes like that.

However, because of all of the above –

avoiding negative influences,
delighting in God’s Word,
situating one’s life close to God’s people,

even when life is difficult, they find comfort in the spiritual formation that they have developed in God’s Word and healthy relationships over time.

PRAYER

Lord God Almighty, I ask that you give me first a heart that wants to grow closer to you. Help me identify the relationships that lead me toward you. Help me to delight in your Word and to hear your Holy Spirit speaking to me through your Word, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE MANN

I am a Pastor for Internationals (retired) in the UALC community. I am married to Pam, father of four, and grandfather of six. Pam and I have lived twenty of our years in other countries including France, Cameroon, Haiti, and Morocco. In retirement, we continue to enjoy writing devotionals, learning languages, and teaching English to internationals.