When I'm in my prayer closest, I often randomly open to scriptures for my devotion. Let me correct that. I ask the Holy Spirit to lead me to His chosen lessons. I read a psalm and something from the New Testament and then pick up on my study of the prophets (currently in Zechariah - following the making of a prophet series Prophetess Kimberly Hargraves is doing https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCThpdywVf-73zk4vOCUkTXg).
Today, I was lead to read Psalm 37. As I read the first few verses, I recalled two women I chat with and their current situations. One has an assignment from God to 'do good' and verse three was on that. We all recommitted to purposely 'do good' and let the group know so we can rejoice together.
I continued reading and then realized the text was broken up into small bite sized lessons.
Before I knew it, I was marking up my KJV/AMP bible to separate the small pieces and heard this as clear as day: your next postings will cover the all sections of Psalm 37.
Honestly, I felt overwhelmed. The psalm has 40 scriptures and I was through five of them and already had three sections!
When I finished reading, ensuring I allowed the Holy Spirit to lead my purple ink pen, I had 19 sections!
So...there will be 19 parts of this series. Each part will take a one or more verses and apply it to everyday life and uplift you when you are down, encourage you when you don't know where to turn, and give you joy and peace when you need it.
I hope you enjoy it! Let's begin.
“Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.” Psalm 37:1-2 NIV
This lead my mind to wonder (I was praying against my mind wondering off just this morning and God answered me immediately in my devotional by reminding me to anchor my soul to Him. How cool is that!) and I saw the world in destruction because of evil doers.
We sometimes get all twisted in fretting over evil things people do. It seems everywhere you turn, someone is doing something evil. At home: kids not behaving, wife nagging about nothing, husband has a wondering, cheating eye, neighbor siphoning water from your cistern. On the job: co-worker slandering you, supervisor (PSA - PLEASE DO NOT CALL PEOPLE YOUR BOSS. THAT MAKES MY SKIN SCRAWL! THEY ARE NOT YOUR BOSSES!) mistreating you, board handing down ill-thought out policies, managers with no vision. Church: don't even get me started on this!
Turn the news on and all they want to report is violence. Hardly a positive thing (I stopped watching). Pull up a news site and it reads like a gossip magazine. Corruption running rampant in governments. Children unable to eat because of parents poor planning or lack of care (some not all).
I could go on and on about the 'evildoers' but what point would that solve. You don't need me to remind you about it. It's there in our every day lives. And bringing you lower is never the purpose of my postings. So where's the JOY?
Well! Whether you believe in God or not, He is real. And I know this! He reminds me daily when I open my eyes. He sends me small reminders throughout the day as He leads me. He shows up BIG before I ever ask. He's real. And because I know this, I know His promises are real.
He's a good, good Daddy. Every time I call Him Daddy, I feel the love I feel for my earthly Daddy. This name speaks a lot if I give it to you and yes, He's my Daddy. And my Daddy doesn't tell lies (do you hear a slight little girl tantrum coming on?). If he said evildoers will die away, then I believe that. If he said they will wither, well, consider it done. Case closed.
You ever wonder why I live in such peace? Cause after so many years of letting these things get to me, I've finally learned that it's not my business. I'm not concerned about that. That's not my business. God said he will vindicate me. How do I know? The word inspired by David (yes, David the whore...David who was after God's heart) says so.
“The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.” Psalms 138:8 KJV
This word perfect means to make straight. Correct. To fix. Bring to an end. Whatever concerns me he will fix! So if I look out and see evil and it concerns me, he will fix it. He will vindicate me! Its not my business...!
Remember the unjust judge and the lady who kept pleading? Even this judge knew how God was. That he quickly avenges His own.
“And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:7-8 KJV
God will avenge his own. It's not my business. And this is the source of my joy! I leave evil to God.
Too often we focus on the wrong thing. Looking at the negative instead of the positives. It took me going to Jost Van Dyke last year February to learn to love it all: the beauty around the poor infrastructure. The light-bulb went off!
As I looked out over the water watching Cane Garden Bay, my eyes opened. It was so beautiful! I live in paradise and yet all I chose to see were potholes. I mean, look around with a fresh pair of eyes. This place is gorgeous!
Corruption in the House: look out. Budget blown to heck: go to the beach. Roads unfinished: sit on your porch and watch the sun set over the over turquoise waters. Beautiful. And if all else fails, know this:
“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?”
Jeremiah 32:27 KJV
Nothing's too hard for God. So turn it over. Don't worry yourself with the evildoers. Focus on the good around you. Hug your children. Slap your wife on the bum. Buy a new nightie for your husbands. Take a vacation and bask in the beauty that surrounds you. God will handle the evildoers. You handle the wonderful life you have.
Always,
Keiyia JOYet George
Take a minute to read Psalm 37. How many pieces can you break it into? How many messages are there for you? Have you realized the beauty that surrounds you? Ask God to open your eyes and renew your vision. Look for the good! How do you plan on accomplishing this now knowing that God will vindicate you?