Psalm 37:7-9
Rest in the Lord; wait patiently for him to act. Don’t be envious of evil men who prosper.
Stop
your anger! Turn off your wrath. Don’t fret and worry—it only leads to
harm. For the wicked shall be destroyed, but those who trust the Lord
shall be given every blessing.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
I am sad to report to you
that I know more than a few people who claim to be faith-filled
Christians…yet they are some of the angriest, most worrisome people I
have ever met! It’s would almost be a joke…were it not so
disheartening. Others who know these people well practically wager on
what will set them off…or how long it will take them to mention that
something has made them mad - or that they are troubled about a
particular thing. Gloom and doom are their constant companions, and
they are generally one crisis or aggravation away from some sort of
meltdown or outburst. And yet they sprinkle their conversations with
references to God, their “faith,” church, Bible study, and Christian
fellowship!
Now I ask you, does this sound like a person who has
something you want? Would you be interested in serving their God if
doing so made you feel so miserable and anxious? I didn’t think so…and I
don’t blame you.
I hope I have been vague enough in my
description that no one has said, “Hey! She’s talking about ME!” If
you do feel that way, perhaps it is time to check your thoughts, words
and actions…and see where you need to “stop your anger” and “turn off
your wrath.” Maybe it’s time for you to fret and worry less…and trust
God more.
It’s probably a good idea for each one of us to pause
and give ourselves a good examination…to see whether we are lining up
with God and really surrendering to Him – and especially to determine
whether we are demonstrating this level of trust to the world at large.
If we are going rest in the Lord, we must wait patiently for
Him to act. We must trust Him for outcomes that bless us and serve our
best interests. In turn, we must serve God by representing His
steadfastness and perfection to those with whom we interact. And they
cannot see this confidence if we are always worried, defeated, upset or
angry.
When others think of you, what words come to mind? Do
they see a person of peace and calm who trusts God in all things? Or do
they see someone who is directly affected by each and every
circumstance of the day – and reacts accordingly? Our attitudes matter
greatly – to us, to others, and to God. What does your attitude say about your Christian faith these days?
©2015 Debbie Robus
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