Psalm 37:1-11

“Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices. Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret—it leads only to evil.” vss. 7-8

The psalmist speaks from experience. He’s likely had a lifetime of walking in the way of the Lord and he’s learned some things about the journey. As we overhear his words to the people of his day, we can’t help but take his insights to heart. This is advice for followers of Jesus to live by too. It’s obvious that not everyone lives as God desires…and we can’t help but notice that these rascals prosper. Often they live in the biggest houses and drive the finest cars…they always have more money than we do. And sometimes their seeming prosperity gets under our skin. We know that ultimately the way of Jesus will bring enormous satisfaction…but we’d like it to happen faster. We can even be resentful and jealous of the blessings reaped by unbelievers. The psalmist tells us not to fret! And above all he advises that we keep anger from getting a toehold in our hearts…it quickly leads to wrath and can completely destroy our serenity. He says to “be still before the Lord,” an unmistakable reference to meditation, and to wait patiently for the peace of mind that is our ultimate goal. Patience isn’t easy in this world that prizes instant gratification…but it’s the very best way to keep from fretting!

Thought for the Day: What do I fret about?