Psalm 1 - Seeking the right counsel

Choose your friends/advisors carefully and prayerfully, because those closest to you can have the ability to make or break you.

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The first Psalm in the bible talks about the dangers of getting the wrong counsel, listening to wrong voices and mixing with the wrong people. Psalm 1:1-3 ‘Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers’. The Word of God therefore clearly warns us to seek our counsel carefully.

Implicit in the Word is stability, nourishment, productivity, strength, durability and success.  So choose your friends/advisors carefully and prayerfully, because those closest to you will have the ability to make or break you. When seeking advice or counsel we should always discern any advisor before they speak into our lives, making sure that they are:

               1.  People of integrity
               2.  People of faith
               3.  People with influence
               4.  People with complimentary gifts
               5.  People who share your vision
               6.  People who are loyal
               7.  People who are creative

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If we look for these seven qualities in those who are advising us there is every chance we will receive good counsel and we will have a better chance of succeeding in what God has called us to do.  This will also help ensure that we get input from God, giving us confidence that any advice we have been given is not just worldly.  Advice that is not from God is usually not good advice and can often make our situations worse than before, so again, we should always seek our counsel carefully. 

Isaiah 30:21 tells us that if we know our Father then He will direct us; ‘Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’.  We should therefore make sure that any goals or plans that we have set are in harmony with God’s will for us, because if they are not, having the best counsel ‘in the world’ won’t help us one iota.

Romans 8:15 ‘So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, ‘Abba, Father’

Psalm 32:1-2 ‘Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit’ 

Psalm 40:4 ‘Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods’

Way back in the Old Testament the Prophet Isaiah foretold that there would be a child born who would be called ‘Wonderful Counsellor’, (amongst other glorious titles).  The prophesy was fulfilled with the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; Isaiah 30:31 ‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace’. If our counsel comes directly from the ‘Wonderful Counsellor’ himself, and this may be through somebody with the seven qualities described above, then we can be certain that this will be good counsel, which is the very counsel we should be seeking.  Praise God.

Author: Herbert Jean 

May God bless and enrich your life

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