"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Tuesday, 27 September 2016 with Scripture Psalm 37:1-9

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Tuesday, 27 September 2016 with Scripture Psalm 37:1-9
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Psalm 37:(0) By David:
(1) Don’t be upset by evildoers
or envious of those who do wrong,
2 for soon they will wither like grass
and fade like the green in the fields.
3 Trust in Adonai, and do good;
settle in the land, and feed on faithfulness.
4 Then you will delight yourself in Adonai,
and he will give you your heart’s desire.
5 Commit your way to Adonai;
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will make your vindication shine forth like light,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before Adonai;
wait patiently till he comes.
Don’t be upset by those whose way
succeeds because of their wicked plans.
8 Stop being angry, put aside rage,
and don’t be upset — it leads to evil.
9 For evildoers will be cut off,
but those hoping in Adonai will inherit the land. [Complete Jewish Bible]
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Sunday at my first-ever Quaker meeting, one worshiper shared how deeply her heart was troubled by the violence around us. How often King David was hounded by enemies and family members angling for power; how often he was tempted into violence himself. Yes, it's easy to "fret because of the wicked."
Our friend also shared an AA axiom: "Don't look at the problem. Look at the solution." King David shares a similar thought: "Take delight 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 act."
What troubles you today? Can you focus on a solution? Take a moment of delight in the Lord.
Holy one, wrestle our eyes away from wickedness around and in us. Give us delight in you and trust in your solutions. Amen.
Brenda Satrum, '93
Faith Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Mont. 
Psalm 37:1 Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers,
2 for they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb.
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.
4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday.
7 Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices.
8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret--it leads only to evil.
9 For the wicked shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. [New Revised Standard Version] 
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