Read Psalm 37:3-9
I am a big fan of do lists. They help me remember what needs to be done
and prioritize what is done. It also makes sure all the little things that add
up into being important things don’t get pushed to the side. In Psalm 37, we have a godly do list that
applies to every day and every situation. This list provides a specific answer
to the questions “What do I do now?”
1. Trust God.
The Hebrew word (batach) means,
“to be confident or secure.” The
dictionary defines trust as “a firm belief in the reliability.” It is
impossible to trust someone or something that we do not believe to be
trustworthy. God is trustworthy. The absoluteness and consistency of God being
God guarantees it. (Hebrews 13:8) He will always be who He is and act
accordingly. When we choose to trust Him
and bring Him into the situation, it will impact what we do and how we do it.
2. Do good. How
simple is that? We may not know specifically the next move. We can trust God to
lead us in the way we should go (Psalm 32:8). However, we do know what is good. The Hebrew word is tov: what is right, well-pleasing, and beneficial to others.
Philippians 4:8 says focus on them and do that. Regardless what gets
accomplished, what we do will be good.
3. Dwell in the land. Be present! It is so easy to
live in the land of “wish I was.” Wish I wasn’t here in this place or
situation. Wish I was there, wherever that might be. You are where you are. Invest in it. Seize the unique opportunity of here and now.
It is all we truly ever possess.
4. Cultivate faithfulness. Several translations focus on the benefits of
being where you are (i.e. “enjoy safe
pasture” or “feed securely”), but
it is more about doing than receiving. The Hebrew word is ra’ah, which actually refers to doing the work of a shepherd. The constant focus is to provide and protect,
at whatever personal cost, faithfulness: trust and truth; devotion and
dependence on God. #4 of our do list must be: prioritize faith.
5. Delight in the Lord. Not only should we draw
incredible pleasure in our intimate partnership with God (Psalm 16:11), but want
to be a delight to Him. The “what” really doesn’t matter when all we want to do
is to please the Father. Jesus said that
was what He always did. (John 8:29) When that is our priority, it radically
changes what we want. He “gives you the
desires of your heart.”
6. Commit your ways.
At the heart of a fully functioning partnership is being fully
committed, being all in. Colossians 3:17,23 refer to whatever you do: do it for the Lord; do it with Lord. Because
He is fully invested in this partnership, we can count on His being actively
involved. We need to make sure we are as well.
7. Rest in the Lord.
The Hebrew word is damam. It does not mean to put up your feet and do
nothing. Actually, this word applies
most when life is ridiculously chaotic.
It means to quiet one’s mind, heart and spirit. When we rein in our racing thoughts, refocus
them on His grace and glory, and breathe in deeply His Spirit, quieting our
body and mouth quickly follow, even if there is no time to stop moving.
8. Wait patiently for Him. The Hebrew word is chiyl. It actually means
like it sounds. Chill out! Don’t go rushing off in a hurry to do or be
something. We need to make sure we are joining the Lord and following His lead.
(Matthew 11:28-30) Calm down. Allow Him
to determine the direction and set the pace.
Getting all worked up accomplishes nothing and frequently undoes what is
accomplished.
That is quite a do list. No matter what needs to be
done today, it is pertinent. Now all we
have to do is to it. Let’s get busy!
Making it
Personal
Proverbs 14:26 says, “In the fear of the Lord is
strong confidence.” Fear here does not
mean to be afraid of, but to respect to such a level that who He is impacts
what or how you respond. How does knowing God will be who He is today impact
what and how you do what you do?
What promise are you given in 2 Corinthians 9:8 to
help you accomplish “do good” on the do list?
We love the promise of Jeremiah 29:11 with the
assurance that God has a plan. The context is that they are in exile. God knows
what He is doing and He will go forward.
What were they to do now according to verses 4-7? How does that apply to
your here and now?
“Cultivate” used in the NASB translation is a farming
word. Paul used the same analogy in 1 Corinthians 3:6. How can you plant,
water, weed or fertilize faith in others today?
Delighting is all about attitude. How can you choose to use everything you do
today as an opportunity to delight in the Lord (i.e. delight in Him while making
the bed or mowing the lawn, etc.)? How
does your attitude, even more than actions, determine whether or not it
delights God?
Partnership is about everything you do being with, for
or through your partner. How does
partnering with God impact what you and God do today?
Of all the do’s on this do list, damam (quieting our heart, mind and spirit) is often the hardest.
When do you find it most challenging? When is it the most crucial? How do you damam?
Do you have physical or mental do list you hope to
accomplish today? How can you apply this
godly do list to that list? Which one must be prioritized?
