“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalm 37:4
Our sinful nature pulls us in every direction, seeking happiness and fulfillment, but when we delight ourselves in the LORD God and His love and mercy toward us in Christ Jesus, our hearts find fulfillment and satisfaction. He gives us the comfort and joy of forgiveness and communion and fellowship with God our Maker through faith in Jesus and His redeeming work.
Grant that I delight myself in You, O LORD, that You might grant me the desires of my heart and give me true joy and fulfillment in You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” Psalm 37:3
What do Christians do as the wickedness of the nations increases? There could be no better answer than to trust in the LORD God and do as He has commanded in His Word, to dwell in the land and continue to be faithful followers of Christ Jesus and His truth.
O God, keep me in Your truth and grant that I hold fast to Christ Jesus, trust in Him as my Savior, and live in accord with His Word. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.” Psalm 37:1-2
While we may be tempted to fret or even envy those who carry out wicked schemes and walk contrary to God’s law, we need not fear or be envious of their apparent successes, for evildoers will be cut down like the grass and quickly wither and fade away like the green herb.
O LORD God, grant that we not fret or be envious when evil men prosper and appear successful but instead trust in You and Your Word and walk in Your ways. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.” Proverbs 24:17-18
We too often rejoice when our enemies — those who have hurt us or have sinned against us — stumble and fall. We take pleasure when evil comes upon them. But God sees this and is displeased. He desires that we love our enemies, do good to them, and pray for them that we may be like our heavenly Father (cf. Matt. 5:43ff.).
O gracious and merciful God, forgive us for rejoicing when our enemies suffer judgment. Instead, grant us a new heart that loves those who hurt us and seeks Your eternal blessing upon them through repentance and faith in Christ Jesus. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.” 1 John 2:9-11
One who acknowledges his sins and looks in faith to Jesus Christ for pardon and forgiveness will also, as a fruit of faith, love his brother. In fact, one cannot be a Christian and continue to hate his brother.
O gracious God, wash away my sins in Jesus’ blood and cleanse my heart that I might love those for whom my Savior shed His holy and precious blood. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
