April 17 – Keep Calm

“The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” - Exodus 14:14 (NLT)

Our promise is found in a specific Old Testament context for Israel but it is a promise for all of us as well.  After 400 years of slavery to the Egyptian Pharaoh, the Children of Israel were leaving Egypt.  God had sent ten plagues on the land of Egypt in order to convince Pharaoh to let them leave.  Now, camped on the shore of the deep-water sea, they see Pharaoh has again changed his mind and pursues Moses to stop the Israelites from leaving Egypt. Frightened, the people respond by crying to, and complaining, and blaming Moses for their certain destruction and death. They can see no other solution.  But Moses says to them, “Keep calm. The LORD has this fight won for you.”  Moses also tells them that this is the last time they will ever see these Egyptians.  God promises us the same.  In the direst circumstances, we too can stay calm and trust God to have our side.  When danger and opposition threaten us. God promises to be with us and to never desert us.  Whatever we're battling today or tomorrow, our LORD will fight for us. He promises to do so.

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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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