A psalm for the times

Discouragement is a dastardly thing. It is one of the luxuries I can't afford.

But discouragement is one of the enemy's best tools. When we become discouraged, the courage is taken out of our hearts and we begin to feel as though there is no hope, that we will be overtaken and lose the war.

The Israelites became discouraged when they faced the desert without food and water, and the Red Sea with the Egyptians chasing them. When it was time to enter the promised land, they became discouraged because of the sheer numbers and size of the Canaanites.

So they succumbed, over and over. They complained and they blamed and they even wept loudly all night (how did God stand it?).

A wise man once said that just because a report is "accurate" doesn't mean that it isn't also evil.

We are facing unsure economic times--there is a major auto company offering to take back cars sold if in the next year one's income is lost--planning for failure. We are in unsure political times--who knows how the current regime will "help" us.

The greenies and responsibly religious among us have decided that having more than 2 children is "disgusting" and "selfish"--forgetting the fact that God loves people, and lots of them!

Discouragement wants a place in our hearts and minds.

But Joshua and Caleb saw through discouragement. They refused to be intimidated by the "what if's". Scripture says that Caleb followed the Lord "whole-heartedly"--without reservation or trying to figure things all out.

When I see the evil all around, and feel way-laid by the negatives, Psalm 37 soothes my soul and makes me laugh and cry and lift a smile to Heaven.

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

Fretting is a monstrous thing. To fret is to worry, and to worry is to visit and mull over a negative or fear continually, like a ravenous wolf trying to wear down his prey.

Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

I love Spurgeon's commentary on the Psalms, The Treasury of David. He says that doing good is the best remedy for fretting--and it is so true! When I am sure that worry wants to rule me, I begin to concentrate on doing good, and so I don't have the time or room in my life for such nonsense. It is amazing as I have put this principle into practice so many times in my life that I see God unfold His special provision in marvelous ways.

Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

This is the verse that is so often misplaced. People are drawn to the words "he shall give thee the desires of thine heart", but miss out on the best part of the passage, "Delight thyself in the LORD". The blessing is in the delighting, the enjoying of God as if He were the most delectable desert, the most precious of friends, the sweetest part of life. Funny how enjoying God makes everything else seem superfluous.

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

With so many voices screaming loudly in the media with threats and accusations and evil boasts, it is easy to become angry. We want to defend ourselves, we want to "do likewise". But we must remember the paradox; to live is to lose, to trust is to win.

As King David was retreating from the usurpation of his rebellious son Absolom, a man pelted him with rocks and insults. His men wanted to cut off the insulter's head, but instead David said, "...let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day." And so we must trust that God is in control, and if we are treated unjustly, He keeps the books.

The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

The LORD shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

Evil men have to rage and scream and throw huge, public fits because it is all they have to work with. They only have themselves and their own piddly ideas. One cannot create infinity with a finite mind. Their intentions may be good, they may even believe they are helping people, but the outcome is evil, simply because it is devoid of God, of His leading and His purpose. That is after all the definition of evil--the absense of God. We pray for these unfortunates, because they are doomed. When we see them for what they trully are we can no longer be filled with fear and anger, but with pity.

A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

What words of hope! They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

One can only store up so much food or stuff so many dollars into the mattress. Food eventually goes bad and money may lose its value and become as common as toilet paper. But God's promises are worth more than any hording we might undertake to prepare for the future.

Take these words and chew on them--let them feed your mind and your soul with a sureness that can not be shaken.

The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

If we are able to put away fear, then we will also become more generous, even in dark times.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

Recently we experienced a great deluge in our house--a flooding toilet that did not stop for almost 2 hours. We did not have money to clean or take care of anything and were tempted to despair, but today we just put the final touches on the restoration, with new carpet no less, and without a penny of cash spent (our carpet was so worn it had holes and piles of dirt underneath--they don't usually replace carpeting, but God gave us favor).

My washer wore out completely last week, and we don't have the money to buy another front-loader (can you imagine my family without a washing machine?), but my dad left me his--the exact same model--and it was just sitting in my garage waiting to be hooked up. We were not utterly cast down--God was upholding us.

What sort of attacks will we see in the future? Perhaps physical attacks from officials or neighbors or relatives, but even though it may look like we are losing, we still win--we just need to read the end of the Book to find that out.

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

These are God's words, and He does not lie. I live by what He says, not what I hear from the news or what I see with my eyes.

Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

If you have been tempted to do evil because you have been so pressed, give it up. Stay on the side of blessing.

The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

The only way to win this war is in the battles fought in our hearts and minds. We cannot fight with our own intellect--we need to stay in God's Word and speak these words forth to others. We have God's promise that none of our steps shall slide.

I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

We need to stop paying attention to what those in the limelight are saying and doing. Yelling at the TV doesn't accomplish anything. Even according to current wisdom, these people will vanish after their 15 minutes of fame are over--sort of like the "pet rocks" of the 70's.

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

Ah, peace. What a goal to shoot for!

But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

Are these troubled times?-yes. Are the wicked going after the righteous?-yes. But God has seen this pattern over and over, and He is not intimidated. We just need to trust and believe--He takes care of the rest.

We can dwell above it all and offer the precious gift of a peaceful heart and mind to those we love--especially our precious husbands and children.