Joy of Doing-Not

For a moment, consider things you do that make you happy. Your list may be long and varied, or it may be short and concise. Whatever is on your list, it came to be there because it made you ... happy. Psalm 1 introduces us to the phenomenal truth of happiness that comes from ... not doing!  "Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers." (Psalm 1:1 NASB). What a contrary idea - the opposite of the most common or natural way of finding happiness. It is not uncommon, however, that we live within particular guidelines and adhere to certain disciplines to reach goals; for example, consider the strict discipline of an athlete who aspires to be a winner! There's an old lie Satan has peddled for a long time: that children of God lead a dry-dull-dismal life. Not so! Those who go the do-not route delight in in God's words - they are "like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers" (Psalm 1:3 NASB). No dry-dull-dismal there! What a blessed (happy) joyful life found in ... doing not!