The Downward Spiral of Drifting Away
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to drift? If you’re not careful, you could be listening to a co-worker's advice that feels a little off, then you’re going along with ideas you once questioned, and before you know it, you’re comfortable—too comfortable—in a place you never meant to stay.
The first verse of Psalm 1 clearly demonstrates this downward spiral that begins when one turns from God’s path. It starts with walking in the counsel of the wicked—taking a casual stroll with voices that dismiss God’s truth. Then comes standing in the way of sinners—a settled belief, a heart convinced that this road might just be fine. Finally, there’s sitting in the seat of scoffers—heels dug in, not just living in sin but mocking those who choose righteousness.
Commentator David Guzik puts it this way:
It’s a progression from influence to identity, from a whisper of folly to a shout of scorn. The book of Proverbs also demonstrates this downward trend:
“For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” Proverbs 1:32-33
Read Proverbs carefully and you’ll find different levels of a fool: the simple, swayed by ignorance; the silly, chasing reckless impulses; the sensual, ruled by desire; the scornful, hardened in pride; and the seared, having no conscience. Each step pulls us further from wisdom, deeper into a wasteland where the wind scatters chaff—dry, lifeless, and lost. It’s rightly been said that sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost your more than you want to pay. Sin is a slippery slope.
But there’s hope. The Psalmists doesn’t just warn us, he shows us a better way. The blessed man doesn’t drift; he’s deeply rooted. He’s not being tossed by every wind of doctrine—his delight isn’t in the world’s noise but in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night (v.2). And the life giving benefits are beautifully illustrated by the Psalmist:
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:3
The flourishing described here is no accident; it’s the result of choosing wisdom over folly, God’s Word over worldly counsel. As Paul explained in Colossians 2:7:
Meditation isn’t passive; it’s active, intentional, a daily soaking in truth that keeps us steady when the winds blow and the storm rages. It’s getting into God’s word so that it gets into us. As Paul also explained:
So where are you today? Whose counsel shapes your steps? Who are you sitting with? What are you gazing upon day and night? As the proverb warns, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20
If you sense you’re drifting, perhaps you’re standing too long in doubt—entertaining intrusive thoughts or sitting with your smart phone scrolling through mind numbing, conscience defiling content. Turn back to the life giving soul nourishing stream. Open God’s Word, let it wash over you, and plant yourself there. Prioritize it, ponder it deeply, and pray it into your soul. Get off of Facebook or Instagram, and get you face in God’s book.
Wisdom is the antidote to the spiral, and it flows in the steady current of His truth. This isn’t just about rules or information—it’s about Jesus, our wisdom, the way, the truth, and the life. Walk in His light, stand on His promises, and rest in the One who sits enthroned above yet draws near to you. Let the still waters of His peace flood your soul.
-Pastor Marco
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to drift? If you’re not careful, you could be listening to a co-worker's advice that feels a little off, then you’re going along with ideas you once questioned, and before you know it, you’re comfortable—too comfortable—in a place you never meant to stay.
The first verse of Psalm 1 clearly demonstrates this downward spiral that begins when one turns from God’s path. It starts with walking in the counsel of the wicked—taking a casual stroll with voices that dismiss God’s truth. Then comes standing in the way of sinners—a settled belief, a heart convinced that this road might just be fine. Finally, there’s sitting in the seat of scoffers—heels dug in, not just living in sin but mocking those who choose righteousness.
Commentator David Guzik puts it this way:
“We can say these speak of thinking, behaving, and belonging. The righteous man and the ungodly man are different in how they think, how they behave, and to whom they belong.”
It’s a progression from influence to identity, from a whisper of folly to a shout of scorn. The book of Proverbs also demonstrates this downward trend:
“For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” Proverbs 1:32-33
Read Proverbs carefully and you’ll find different levels of a fool: the simple, swayed by ignorance; the silly, chasing reckless impulses; the sensual, ruled by desire; the scornful, hardened in pride; and the seared, having no conscience. Each step pulls us further from wisdom, deeper into a wasteland where the wind scatters chaff—dry, lifeless, and lost. It’s rightly been said that sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost your more than you want to pay. Sin is a slippery slope.
But there’s hope. The Psalmists doesn’t just warn us, he shows us a better way. The blessed man doesn’t drift; he’s deeply rooted. He’s not being tossed by every wind of doctrine—his delight isn’t in the world’s noise but in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night (v.2). And the life giving benefits are beautifully illustrated by the Psalmist:
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:3
The flourishing described here is no accident; it’s the result of choosing wisdom over folly, God’s Word over worldly counsel. As Paul explained in Colossians 2:7:
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
Meditation isn’t passive; it’s active, intentional, a daily soaking in truth that keeps us steady when the winds blow and the storm rages. It’s getting into God’s word so that it gets into us. As Paul also explained:
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16
So where are you today? Whose counsel shapes your steps? Who are you sitting with? What are you gazing upon day and night? As the proverb warns, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20
If you sense you’re drifting, perhaps you’re standing too long in doubt—entertaining intrusive thoughts or sitting with your smart phone scrolling through mind numbing, conscience defiling content. Turn back to the life giving soul nourishing stream. Open God’s Word, let it wash over you, and plant yourself there. Prioritize it, ponder it deeply, and pray it into your soul. Get off of Facebook or Instagram, and get you face in God’s book.
Wisdom is the antidote to the spiral, and it flows in the steady current of His truth. This isn’t just about rules or information—it’s about Jesus, our wisdom, the way, the truth, and the life. Walk in His light, stand on His promises, and rest in the One who sits enthroned above yet draws near to you. Let the still waters of His peace flood your soul.
-Pastor Marco