A PSALM FOR GROWNUPS
"I'm getting too old not to get this thing right."
I've been quietly whispering this to myself all week.
Lately, the days feel like they are flying by me on the wings of distraction and the more I try to stay on point with God, the harder it gets.
Am I by myself?
Maybe, but I don't think so.
It's hard to keep up the pace and keep it "Christian".
You encourage someone to pray and your prayer life gets challenging.
You help someone discover their purpose, then start to question your own.
You love hard, then lose harder.
Heaven or hell? Every day, we are pricked to prove whose side we are on.
It's a lot.
So, I'm asking you to do what I did... force myself to slow down for a moment and let God's wisdom wash over me.
By the time King David wrote Psalms 37, he had been through a lot.
He was older. Wiser.
A once energetic warrior turned seasoned elder eager to share with others how to survive.
Psalms 37 is David's fireside chat with us and for us. A psalm for grownups.
I encourage you to read it in its entirety, but in the meantime, here are some of the lessons I believe David is trying to teach us:
TRADE IN YOUR CHAOS FOR HIS COVENANT
Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
~Psalms 37: 1-3
WORSHIP THE ONE WHO’S BEEN WAITING FOR YOU
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
~Psalms 37:4
SACRIFICE FOR THE ONE WHO SEES YOU
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.
~Psalms 37:5-6
BE PATIENT WITH THE ONE WHO IS PATIENT WITH YOU
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.
For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.
~Psalms 37:7-11
OBEY THE ONE WHO SUSTAINS YOU
The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty, but the wicked will perish: Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field, they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke. The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously; those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be destroyed.
~Psalms 37:18-22
BOW TO THE CROSS, THEN RISE TO THE OCCASION
The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing.
~Psalms 37:23-26
BE FAITHFUL TO THE ONE WHO FORGIVES
Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever. For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.
~Psalms 37:27
WAIT FOR THE GOD WHO’S BEEN WAITING FOR YOU
Hope in the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.
~Psalms 37:34
BUILD WITH THE ONE WHO BLED FOR YOU
The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
~Psalms 39-40
For every problem, God is the solution.
For every question, He is the answer.
To be grown up in God is to face life with God.
He is the cloud of guidance in front of us and the fire of protection behind us, but we can only receive His direction and protection when we stay in position.
Thanks for the reminder, David.
~ NOVEMBER ~
Is this a casual relationship or covenant?
Let's talk about it.
Were you helped by today's blog? I want to know what you think. And if you were, share it with your friends and family (even your enemies, if you want). We want the world to know that sometimes, it's just gotta be GOD n ME!
In the meantime, take care. Be safe. Look like LOVE.
WRITER | MENTOR | TEACHER
LOVER OF CHOCOLATE |
PURPOSED TO EMPOWER |
30+ YEARS IN MINISTRY LEADERSHIP |
PREACHER OF THE GOSPEL
Phillipa also the Founder of ilooklikeLOVE, Inc., a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization providing diaper assistance to families in need and opportunities for mothers to empower themselves.
Look for her upcoming book,
GOD n You: Finding Your Place in Forever.
