Psalms of Honesty and Truth

There is no one more profound, besides Jesus Christ himself, than David in telling us about God, His ways, His work in us, along with His power and majesty! Psalm 37 is long and wonderful, so we will savor a few bites at a time this week.

We all love to be validated…for our “value”. What are we worth? Randy and I went to a financial counselor to see if we could live on our retirement and social security…yeah, I know a little late for that, eh, and he quickly told us our “worth”. I went downtown for a meeting last week, parking in a pricey lot. The restaurant meeting place waitress reminded us of our “worth” in giving us a pass that gave us free parking. Validation. Being validated seems to be pretty important to a lot of people. Being validated by God, says David, is the most important of all and He gives it freely for those who seek Him, come humbly quiet before Him and prayerfully ask His will and direction.

Are you seeking to be validated?

Psalm 37, The Message

A David Psalm

1-2 Don’t bother your head with braggarts
or wish you could succeed like the wicked.
In no time they’ll shrivel like grass clippings
and wilt like cut flowers in the sun.

3-4 Get insurance with God and do a good deed,
settle down and stick to your last.
Keep company with God,
get in on the best.

5-6 Open up before God, keep nothing back;
he’ll do whatever needs to be done:
He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day
and stamp you with approval at high noon.

7 Quiet down before God,
be prayerful before him.
Don’t bother with those who climb the ladder,
who elbow their way to the top.

8-9 Bridle your anger, trash your wrath,
cool your pipes—it only makes things worse.
Before long the crooks will be bankrupt;
God-investors will soon own the store.

10-11 Before you know it, the wicked will have had it;
you’ll stare at his once famous place and—nothing!
Down-to-earth people will move in and take over,
relishing a huge bonanza.

12-13 Bad guys have it in for the good guys,
obsessed with doing them in.
But God isn’t losing any sleep; to him
they’re a joke with no punch line.

14-15 Bullies brandish their swords,
pull back on their bows with a flourish.
They’re out to beat up on the harmless,
or mug that nice man out walking his dog.
A banana peel lands them flat on their faces—
slapstick figures in a moral circus.

16-17 Less is more and more is less.
One righteous will outclass fifty wicked,
For the wicked are moral weaklings
but the righteous are God-strong.

Pause to reflect…Do I want validation from the world or God of the world and everything in it?
–If we keep company with the God of the universe, our Creator of all, then He validates us, gives us HIS best!
–If we open up, hold nothing back, be honest with ourselves and with the God who knows all, He validates us. AND He will help us get done what HE wants done in and through us!
–Seek God first, before you see, talk or listen to anyone else. God brings value to your unworthiness and becomes our strength and our song all day long.
–Real, lasting validation of worth is found only in God.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Wow! Thank you, Lord! You are God and i are not. I seek to please You all day long. May my life make you smile today in all that I am and attempt to do. May Your Light reflect brightly in me.
In Jesus Name, Amen