Thursday - Psalm 37 - Worrywart

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ike it or not, God's word to us is, "Fret not ..." (Psalm 37:1, 7 & 8). Don't worry!  Cheer up!  How easy it is to get upset and to go around fussing because life has become a hassle.  But that is not an attribute of "living by faith" in God.  Evildoers will do evilly.  We all wish it weren't so... but it is, at least for a while (Psalm 37:35-36).  They will continue in their evil until God stops them (Psalm 37:2, 9, 28 & 38).  So, what are we going to accomplish by worrying about it?  Nothing good!  We may become envious or jealous or doubtful... but nothing wholesome can come from fretting.

Instead of focusing on the apparent prosperity of the ungodly, we should keep our eyes on Christ.  No commentary can clarify further the already plain admonitions of Psalm 37:3-7, "Trust in the LORD, and do good... Delight yourself also in the LORD; and He shall give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass... Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him..."

Now, here is a convicting thought.  With all of our righteous indignation against those who openly revel in their evil, we must be careful not to become like them (Ezekiel 2:8).  Psalm 37:16 says that we are better off being right and having a little in this life than we would be by becoming like our nemeses for personal gain.  When I see the ways of the wicked in my own mirror (Psalm 37:21), it makes me literally nauseous with sorrow.  Oh! how I long to reflect the nature of my Lord (Psalm 37:26).  We free God up to take care of us when we obey him in humble righteousness (Psalm 37:25).