Fret Not Yourself

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Fret Not Yourself

We have instinctive reactions  to help ourselves  and prevent the possibility  of our being hurt.    And,  that is very good and necessary  at all times.   But,  we can also have another reaction  to our life situation  that is called “fretting”.     To fret is to allow something  to eat and gnaw away  at us.     We allow something  to bug us so much  that it wears us away  with a constant irritation,  vexation,  and worry.     We even lose sleep  in our frustrations.

We must protect ourselves  from the various evils  of this world,  but in the same breath,  we also need  to entrust all  of our cares and worries  into the eternal hands  of our Lord and Savior.     It is not our power  that keeps us safe.     It is God’s power.     He is the One  who is watching over us  and desiring  that we turn  to Him  with all our needs.    

King David vividly expresses our real needs  in Psalm 37:1-11.     Here we have guidance  in how God wants us to be  as we face our problems.

Fret not yourself   because of evildoers,    
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.    
For they will wither quickly  like the grass,   
And fade  like the green herb.   

 
Trust in the LORD,  and do good;   
Dwell in the land  and cultivate faithfulness.    
Delight yourself  in the LORD;   
And He will give you the desires  of your heart.  

 
Commit your way  to the LORD,   
Trust also in Him,  and He will do it.   
And He will bring forth your righteousness  as the light,   
And your judgment  as the noonday.   

 
Rest in the LORD  and wait patiently  for Him;   
Fret not yourself  because of him who prospers  in his way,   
Because of the man  who carries out wicked schemes.   

 
Cease from anger,  and forsake wrath;   
Fret not yourself,  it leads only to evildoing.   
For evil doers will be cut off,   
But those who wait  for the LORD,  they will inherit the land.   

Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;   
And you will look carefully  for his place,  and he will not be there.   
But the humble  will inherit the land,   
And will delight themselves  in abundant prosperity.

God has so much He wants us  to be assured of  as He speaks here through David’s experiences.     It does us good  to meditate on all these words  and let them  be our constant guide  in this world  of innumerable challenges.     We are to rest  in Jesus and live in His ways,  because He is the Judge  of all things  in the end.     And the end is what counts  for all eternity.

For every time we are tempted  to fret,  let us turn  to these words of comfort and promise.     God is faithful.     He kept all of His promises  of a Savior  in Jesus Christ,  and He can be counted on  to keep all of His other promises, too.     As we delight  in the LORD,  we are thanking and praising Him  for all the wonders  of His love  for us.

Therefore,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     LORD,  You allow us  to face troubles,  so that You might show us the wonders  of Your grace.     Open our eyes and hearts  to the depths  of Your care  in Jesus Christ.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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