Don’t Worry Yourself

Psalm 37:1-7 NRSV

“Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers, for they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb. 

Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. 

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will make your vindication shine like the light, 

and the justice of your cause like the noonday. 

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.”

This is about relationship with God. We worry too much about too much. We are not to fret. David gives us a great plan for our vertical connection: Trust in the Lord. Delight in the Lord. Commit to the Lord. Be still. 

This sets us up for success in anything because it strengthens our  vertical connection - our relationship with God. When the vertical connection is strong, then the horizontal connection with others will be. Too often we strengthen the wrong connection. 

This week - trust in the Lord, delight in the Lord, commit to the Lord, and be still. As Jamaica says it, “don’t worry yourself Mon.” enough for now.

Stand Up, Not Down

1 Samuel 17:26c

(RSV): “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

This is the story of David and Goliath. Go back and read it. This was the passion that David had toward Goliath. Before we can fight, we must have that drive. The Israelites army felt defeated and had given up. But one boy, with one slingshot did what others could not do. He knew who he was fighting, that Goliath was not bigger than God. And he knew how to fight, in the way that worked for him- no armor, no battle weapon - but a slingshot with five smooth stones. 

We have to know why we fight, who we fight, and how we fight. Our why is because nothing is larger than God. Our who is the Goliath tries us against and agin in different ways. Oh he’s defeated but he knows that we don’t realized that, and so he taunts. Our how is by listening to Holy Spirit and not making a move without him. enough for now.

You Can’t Go Back

Numbers 14:4

“And they said to one another, “Let us choose a captain, and go back to Egypt.”

This about the Israelites that wanted to go back into captivity. They couldn’t face the issues they were up against and would rather go back into captivity. Go back and read it when you can. But today just three things to consider when you want to give up and remain captive: 1. You can’t stay where you are. 2. You can’t go back. 3. You must go forward. Many times that going forward is to get still and listen. To be be still and know- that he is God. Know that God has your back. enough for now.

Hold On

Galatians 6:7, 9NRSV

“Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.”

Paul was  talking to the church. This verse has three aphoristic statements. An aphoristic statement is a general truth. You know, like if you go outside when it rains you will get wet. Cause you know you can’t run between the rain drops.  

Anyway, these three are independently true and collectively true. So there is nothing more I can add but I would encourage each of us this week to take time in God’s truth, which sometimes is not our truth. Hold on to the three statements. 

 And hold on to verse 9  “So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.” Hold on, be strong, don’t give up, don’t give in. enough for now.