March 1 – Patient Resting

“Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.” – Psalm 37:7 (NASB)

Don’t we all remember when we went to school for the first time? For most is was Kindergarten. Some time during the day all in the class took a break from activities and rested. During the rest period we were told to “be still” which was difficult for some of us. Indeed, very difficult for most 5 years old children. The command we have in today’s verse is to “rest in the LORD” which is just as correctly rendered “be still before the LORD.”  Just as a 5 year old is not really resting if he or she is wiggling about, we are not truly resting if our concern and activity is fretting about those who seems to be “getting away” with their malevolent behavior. Many cheat, lie, steal, and run confidence games on good people and seem to escape legal consequences. The first verse in this psalm said it first. “Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers.” Our promise is that we do not need to fret. We actually do not gain anything if we become so obsessed over the evil in this world – and we miss the rest we need. 

 

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October 31 – No Benefit At All – Three of Seven

“And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?”  Matthew 6:27 (NASB)

This is a promise – a simple promise of reality –  that we discover through experience. Perhaps when we read this verse apart from  the larger context of verses 25-34 in Matthew chapter 6, we miss seeing the promise that is here.   God tells us through the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount that choosing to be anxious simply does not do us any good.  Taking up worry as a way to deal with challenges or life in general results in ZERO gain.  That is a promise.  How many time in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, do we find the instruction to not fret.  What is fretting?  We don't use that word in our common speech so much anymore but it means to 'stew', 'sweat', 'agitate', 'lather' and 'worry.' None of these reaction are called for since we are trusting in God who provides all we need to eat, drink, and clothe ourselves.  If we choose to be anxious we are messing up our own day and life as well as a lot of other people's too.  Let's renounce it and leave it with God. 

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Some of this content has been drawn from a series of "Solid Joys" articles off the Internet.  Solid Joys are a daily devotional by John Piper.  Desiring God 

May 29 – Rest, Don't Fret

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!  Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.”  Psalm 37:7-8  (ESV)

It is from Psalm 37 that we have chosen our verses for today.  This is a Psalm that is rich in promises that are ours as a result of our following the behavior God has set forth for us.  Today's verse says, “Be still,” or “Rest.” We are to trust God to work his promises in His time and not to spend time fretting over the circumstances in which we find ourselves. In particular, don't compare ourselves to others.  Don't measure our circumstances with the circumstances of others who seem to be doing well in the way they are doing business. Don't become anxious that some non-believer is making it rich through his unethical actions and work.  Don't get embroiled setting them straight even if what they are doing is not right.  Why?  Because we have another but different kind of outcome promised to us if we choose to not get stirred up and angry.   Getting upset and involved in trying to sort out another person is likely to get us entangled in their evil.  No, fretting is NOT our way.  Our way is to be still and wait for God to act on our behalf and to follow the path He sets before us.  

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