I recently heard it said that God will make us his top priority if we make him ours. At first it seemed a presumptuous thing to assume. Why would the Creator of the Universe put me on the top of his list? I mean, he has a pretty long list of things to take care of. How would I end up at the top? But then it hit me… God is God! His list isn’t going to look like mine would with some attempt at properly prioritizing things. He is the Alpha and Omega. He knows the end from the beginning. He can have more that one thing at the top of his list! He created each of us to be in a relationship with him and he has promised to be the protector and provider of all of his children. It is his top priority to care for us! But first we must allow him to be our Savior and surrender our whole life into his loving hands.
As I was reading Psalm 37 this morning, I noticed that it could be broken down into two lists. One of them is a list of promises from God and the other is a list of things for me to do in order to see God’s promises coming true in my life. The instructions for me are not so much a list of rules of behavior, but more of a reminder of how to let go and let God.
Not – “if you do this then God will do that“. But – “God is doing that and you just need to do this.”
What will God do?
- Provide safe pasture
- Give me the desires of my heart
- Make my righteousness shine
- Provide peace
- Break the power of the wicked
- Uphold me with his hand
- Protect and provide – forever
- Make my steps firm
- Never forsake me
- Give me a future
- Be my stronghold
- Help me and deliver me
- Save me!
What must I do?
- Not fret
- Trust in The Lord
- Do good
- Delight myself in God
- Commit my way to The Lord
- Be still, wait patiently
- Refrain from anger
- Hope in The Lord
- Turn from evil
- Keep The Lord’s way
- Be blameless and upright
- Take refuge in The Lord
It looks like I’m the one getting all of the blessing in the relationship … so God definitely deserves all the glory.
Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.
Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.
The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.
The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.
But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.
The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure forever.
In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
But the wicked will perish: The Lord’s enemies will be like the beauty’s of the fields, they will vanish – vanish like smoke.
The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off.
If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.
Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.
For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off; the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.
The mouths of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speak what is just.
The law of God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.
The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives; but the Lord will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned when brought to trial.
Wait for the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil, but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.
Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for a man of peace.
But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.
The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.