Psalm 37, opening verses - 1-7, the New Living Translation:
Don’t worry about the wicked
or envy those who do wrong.
For like grass, they soon fade away.
Like spring flowers, they soon wither.
Trust in the LORD and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Commit everything you do to the LORD.
Trust him, and he will help you.
He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
Be still in the presence of the LORD,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.
_______Don't worry?
Yes, the psalmist says it two times,
at the beginning and end of this chunk.
Don't worry.
Specifically,
Don't worry about the wicked,
those who do wrong,
those who prosper, though they are evil,
those who harbor wicked schemes.
Man, that's hard for me.
Is it for you?
I want those bad guys to get what they deserve!
And, to tell the whole truth here, I do worry about it sometimes.
So this Lenten weekday reminder is important:
Leave it to the LORD.
Trust.
Do good myself.
And most of all,
Take delight in the LORD.
And the best way to do that is also spelled out in these verses -
be still in God's presence,
learn to wait,
to still that beating heart,
that fevered mind,
that mental to-do list,
that building resentment,
those rabbit-trail distractions that get so dang noisy.
And, oh yeah - in case you missed it - don't fret.
______________
But I SO want to worry about it, Lord. It feels weird and sort of magical, but somehow I think if I worry about stuff, it will get better. Ha! Oh, help me to keep my sticky little mental fingers off the worry button and help me to keep my palms facing upward, ready and waiting for you. Amen.
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Click here for day one of this series and an explanation of what it's all about.
