Where Are You Rooted?
Psalm 1 Reflections on True Prosperity
I Remember the Mustang
I remember a time when I was a wee lad—maybe 9 or 10—and I hopped into a black-and-white striped, juiced-up Cobra Mustang with an older male friend of mine. That car looked like it belonged on a racetrack. I’ll never forget how he gripped the steering wheel—steady, confident, and fully alive. He smiled, hit the gas, and let it rip.
I was impressionable back then—and to be honest, I still am. That moment stamped something on my young heart:
“If you want to be confident, good-looking, and powerful… get a Mustang.”
It sounds funny now. But that experience became a kind of early sermon from the world, teaching me that stuff equals strength. That what you drive—or what you own—makes you matter.
But Psalm 1 offers a very different kind of prosperity. One that doesn't rust, fade, or get traded in for a newer model. One that is rooted.
Why Earthly Things Don’t Satisfy—and Why That’s a Good Thing
Here’s the crazy thing: earthly things don’t satisfy.
And yet—in some ways, they do.
On their own, material things are fleeting. A house needs repairs. A car eventually dies. A new title feels old in a few months. They weren’t designed to fill the deepest part of your soul.
But when you’re walking with God, something shifts.
You start to enjoy earthly things—not as idols, but as gifts.
James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights.” That includes the oxygen in your lungs. The roof over your head. The cold air from your A/C on a hot summer day. Those aren’t just conveniences—they’re small expressions of His kindness.
And thank God they don’t satisfy.
Because if they did, we’d kill each other even more chasing after them. We’d hoard, compete, compare, and still feel empty. These things are temporary. As Denzel Washington once said, “You’ll never see a U-Haul behind a hearse.”
Jesus put it more clearly:
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)
His Word satisfies because it’s eternal. It speaks to your forever while anchoring your now. It doesn’t take away joy—it rightly prioritizes it.
The goal isn’t to starve yourself from the world—it’s to feed yourself on the Word. To be filled with eternity so you can live in the world on purpose.
For some of us, that will mean business and wealth.
For others, pastoring, serving, or missions.
But for all of us, the fuel is the same:
His Word. His presence. Relationship with Him.
And when I say “His Word,” I don’t just mean ink on a page—I mean what I’d tell a child:
Hang out with your Father. Talk to Him. Trust Him. Learn to obey Him. And you’ll thrive in His house.
That’s what happens in the house of the Lord.
That’s what happens when you stay rooted.
We are wire for eternity.
Psalm 1: The Prosperity That Lasts
Psalm 1 begins with a bold claim:
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked…”
Instead, they delight in the law of the Lord. They meditate on it day and night.
The result?
“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.” (Psalm 1:3)
This isn’t the prosperity the world sells.
It’s deeper than that.
It’s fruitfulness, stability, and endurance.
A Short Warning and a Big Challenge
The world will keep whispering:
“This is the way to happiness. Comfort. Control. Comparison. Consumption.”
But don’t fall for it.
Instead, be a child.
Be a Child Every Day
The Psalms are one of the most intimate books in Scripture.
It’s raw, emotional, vulnerable, honest—and all of it is directed toward God. It is weirdly childlike (after being a dad of toddlers).
I challenge you: be a child every single day.
Open His Word.
Ask questions.
Walk with your Father.
If you’ve never read the Bible from beginning to end, start at the beginning (in Genesis).
Know your family tree.
Learn how it began. And why it matters.
But also—ask God where to begin.
Let the Holy Spirit guide you.
Whatever comes to mind might be His invitation.
Once you’ve begun, I encourage you to go back to Matthew.
Meet Jesus. Walk with Him. Then keep going—read the whole story. Stay rooted.
Never Finished Challenge: How I Stay Rooted
S.O.A.P. Method
One method I often use to stay rooted is S.O.A.P.:
S – Scripture: Read a chapter (or reread if nothing stands out).
O – Observation: What does the verse say? What’s the original context?
A – Application: How does this apply to your life?
P – Prayer: Talk to God about it. Ask Him to plant it deep.
Tithing My Drive + Prayer Arrows
Every time I get in the car, I tithe my drive. I turn on the Bible.
While driving, when I see someone walking with a heavy spirit or a low posture, I pray for them. I call those prayer arrows—I know my prayer is a KIA for that anxiety, depression, or darkness they are experiencing because I asked the King to help them.
One other thing I want to mention is I like to end my day with scripture.
Ending My Day Like a Child
Just like I start my day in the Word, I end it the same way.
Breathing. Pausing. Reflecting.
Trying to live what I read.
Trying to stay like a child.
I know I’m on a journey.
I know I’m still growing.
I know I have questions.
And that’s more than okay.
God welcomes our questions. He always has.
Final Questions for You
Where are your roots planted?
What are you meditating on, day and night?
What does true prosperity look like in your life? (I can generally look at your bank statements and see).
You are not alone.
You are not of this world.
You are part of something eternal.
Stay curious. Stay rooted. Stay never finished.
What does today say about God?
Saint Augustine observed, "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”
It is true. I am permanently restless unless I am enjoying the presence of God.
He wired me that way—not to damn me, but to free me. The selfless idea of creating a wiring in me to long for Him is unfathomable.
Instead, for now, I will be grateful and obedient.
Thank you, Jesus.