Psalm 37

Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers, 2for they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb.
3Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. 4Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Lord,
What an incredibly difficult piece of instruction this is to follow! Do not fret! Do not be envious! Trust in the Lord and do good. Take delight in the Lord.

And the promise is nearly as challenging; the wicked “will soon fade like the grass” and “he will give you the delight of your heart.”

Here the spiritual and the ethical converge in perfect marriage. Doing good has its roots in “trust in the Lord” and trust produces good works. “Trust in the Lord and do good.” Like the old song my Daddy sang, “You can’t have one without the other.”

And the promise: “Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Jesus said to seek first his Kingdom and all these things will be added and had said, “Whatever you ask in my name will be given to you.”

I’ll confess to some prayers that were disappointed, unanswered prayers. At the same time I cling to the hope of answered prayer. And I sit in the mystery of the way that “delight in the Lord” and “doing good” and the desires of the heart all come together in the poet’s experience. Grant to me trust and understanding.

PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask God to stir within you a delight in God, the will to do good, and trust that the desires of your heart will be fulfilled.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.