Psalm 37

Verse 7... Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
     fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way... 

This is the verse that my pastor shared at a prayer meeting a little over four months ago - and I still keep coming back to the notes I took that evening:

I. The instruction.
     A. Silence, rest; a hushed, still spirit. Silence demonstrates wisdom and sanctification.  The opposite is fretting... an agitated, troubled spirit. Fretting is one of several sinful reactions mentioned in this psalm (see also envy - v. 1, anger - v. 8, wrath - v. 8). Fretting is cause by focusing on the actions of others. Three of the four occurrences of "fret" in the Old Testament are found in this psalm - fretting was a real problem for the psalmist! Fretting occurs when we focus on man instead of on God. We become jealous or discontent, burning up with annoyance and grief.
     B. Stillness - see Psalm 46:10.
     C. Satisfaction - the soul that rests in the Lord finds all it needs in the Lord: His presence, power, person, promise, preservation.

II. The incentive.
     A. The Lord is sovereign over all things. He is on the throne, see Psalm 2. He knows when every sparrow falls. Every aspect of our lives is under His superintendence.
     B. He knows our hearts, needs, weakness, discouragements.
     C. He is able to perform His promises (see v. 5). The Lord performs all things for me, Psalm 57:2.
     D. He orders our steps (see v. 23) -- every detail of our lives. He does not forsake His people!
     E. He gives grace in the midst of hard circumstances. Bring your cares to Him!

III.The inheritance.
Our union with Christ is the means of receiving comfort. The presence of the Lord is our comfort.

...And so I must continue to take these thoughts to heart. Today has been especially hard emotionally. I had someone on my mind and happened to remember that it was just about this time last year when I first met him. I looked at a calendar, and sure enough, it was one year ago to the very day! That initial meeting somehow left me tongue-tied and nervous (though there was no apparent explanation at the time). For the next eight months, I grew more and more impressed by his hard work, selflessness, musicality, thoughtfulness, sensitivity, leadership, and maturity. I even thought he could someday be realized as THE "dear one" to whom I write. I cried when I leaned of his pending departure. And I find myself in tears again this evening, wondering if I will ever see him again.

 The night my pastor preached on Psalm 37:7, I was fighting tears when I happened to glance across the room and observe this someone brushing away a tear of his own.

 Tonight I pray for him. 

 Wait patiently; your times, my times, are in His hands.