Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.
(Psalms 37:17 NLT)

Be Still. Wait Patiently. Don’t worry. Don’t Fret. All four inside one verse. Seems like an impossibility for me to accomplish even one of those most days, much less all four. Can you relate? I find comfort that this is in a Psalm though. It tells me that even without the hustle of life we experience today, people thousands of years ago had the same pains, the same anxieties, and the same emotions we feel. It’s the way we are. The way we are wired. Or at least the way the enemy knows how to get at us. Even without the social media, traffic jams, and television stresses of our every day lives, people back then still experienced worry. So much so that this Psalm was written to remind them to knock it off.

Easier said than done though right? Well, yeah, maybe.

But I think the key is to not get hung up on the negatives. Don’t focus on the “Don’ts”. Yes, I see the irony in that sentence. It is so important to see that this verse starts with the “Be Still” and “Wait Patiently” and ends with the Don’ts. It tells me that we seek Him first. We wait on Him first. We get with Him first. Then we tackle the worry and the fret. Arm yourself with His presence, then walk together. It even says to wait on Him to act. Does that take the pressure off? It should. We merely need to calm ourselves, acknowledge His presence, and wait on His timing. The world will take care of itself when we focus on Him. Focus on His presence. Focus on the blessing that God, Himself, is.

Father - I pause. I pause again. I close my eyes and fill my lungs with a deep breath. I breathe You in. I know You are here. Here with me. Your presence is what I need, what I seek, what I love. I ask that you would calm my heart. Give me the strength to be patient and wait on you. Please, silence the world around me. Let it be only you I hear. I am yours. -In Jesus’ Name - Amen.