“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” (Psalm 37:5, NRSV)
The scripture above is very informative. If you read it correctly, it explains what you need to do for God to act on your behalf. However, to really understand the implications, you need to read this scripture carefully. It was written in a specific way with a specific understanding. If you do not follow it as intended, you will not experience God's strong action upon your life.
The scripture is split into three parts in three phrases. The first two parts are required of you. In the first phrase of the sentence, you are given this command: “commit your way to the Lord” (Psalm 37:5). When you encounter an issue or problem or obstacle in your life, your first response should be to “commit the entire matter to the Lord”. You should give God complete control. The Hebrew word for “commit” means to “roll”. In essence, when you commit an entire matter to the Lord, you are rolling the entire weight of the situation into HIS hands. You cease to retain control of the situation. You leave the control with God. You let things roll as HE wills. Throughout this period, as you turn the situation over to God, you need to “trust in Him”. This is the second part and phrase of today’s scripture. You need to let the Lord have the responsibility and direction of the situation. You need to trust that God knows what HE is doing. You need to leave things in His hands. This doesn’t mean that you should take no responsibility for your actions or ignore your part in the matter. Far from it! Instead, you need to follow God’s direction, be patient, and trust that God is leading you. Don’t jump to conclusions or make assumptions. Act on God’s initiative, not your own.
Growing up in a small town, Rosalynn desired the allure of the big city lights. She couldn’t wait to turn eighteen and leave for college in some far-away big city. When she was a sophomore and junior in High School, she dreamed of going to college in Boston or Miami, Chicago or Atlanta. She didn’t like growing up in a small town where everybody knew everybody’s business. Rosalynn had dreams; big ones!
While she was a senior in High School and planning her life far from home, Rosalynn’s parents divorced. It was a huge mess, and Rosalynn struggled to deal with the implications. Because money was tight, she couldn’t afford a big-city school. She ended up at a college only fifty miles away in another small town. Throughout the whole ordeal, Rosalynn complained to God in her prayers. Why was this happening? Why had her dreams been so terribly altered? She had a hard time adapting at college. She worked two jobs just to be able to afford her tuition, room and board. She became depressed and angry.
Instead of being content in her situation and trusting God would help her through, Rosalynn stopped praying and began to drink more. She experimented with drugs. While at a party, Rosalynn met a wealthy young man. Six months later, she dropped out of college and moved in with him. For once, she didn't have to worry about money. Her boyfriend, Chuck, had more than enough money for the two of them. You should have seen his house! While she settled into her new life with Chuck, she fell further from God.
Twenty years later, Rosalynn looks back on her life as a series of mistakes. First, she gave up on God. Second, she wasn’t content with “just” going to college. She was angry that she never had the opportunity to enroll in a major college in a big city. When she ran away with Chuck, she thought living together was grand. However, when he dumped her for another woman a year and a half later, Rosalynn had to move back home with her mother. She spent several years in small jobs in her home town, with much of her money given to a counselor with whom she met once a week. However, two years later she went back to visit her home church. A few months later, she rejoined and attended worship frequently. She began to pray. She joined two groups. She traveled on mission trips. A year later, Rosalynn met the love of her life and settled down. For the past fifteen years, Rosalynn has had two children and is now very happy with her life. Still, as she looks back at her younger college days, she realizes that she didn’t listen very well to God. She didn’t trust God to help her through. When things got tough, she made all her decisions on her own without any direction from God. Inevitably, this made her very unhappy and almost ruined her life.
When you commit your way to the Lord and put your total trust in Him, the scripture for today promises that in time, the Lord will act (Psalm 37:5). God will come through. Sadly, people don’t trust in God, waiting patiently for God’s response during trying times. Instead, they plunge headfirst, often making big mistakes.
How well do you listen to God’s voice? Do you commit your way to the Lord when your world gets shaken up, or do you tend to take the reins yourself without a thought to God’s plans? Do you place enough trust in God, awaiting His direction? God will act, given the right moment. God will know when it is the perfect time to accomplish something. Don’t let situations in life control your decisions. Don’t let others dictate your future. God knows you best. God can see further along your path in life. Trust God’s guiding hand. In time, you will see God come through when you commit your way fully to a trust in His plans.
The scripture is split into three parts in three phrases. The first two parts are required of you. In the first phrase of the sentence, you are given this command: “commit your way to the Lord” (Psalm 37:5). When you encounter an issue or problem or obstacle in your life, your first response should be to “commit the entire matter to the Lord”. You should give God complete control. The Hebrew word for “commit” means to “roll”. In essence, when you commit an entire matter to the Lord, you are rolling the entire weight of the situation into HIS hands. You cease to retain control of the situation. You leave the control with God. You let things roll as HE wills. Throughout this period, as you turn the situation over to God, you need to “trust in Him”. This is the second part and phrase of today’s scripture. You need to let the Lord have the responsibility and direction of the situation. You need to trust that God knows what HE is doing. You need to leave things in His hands. This doesn’t mean that you should take no responsibility for your actions or ignore your part in the matter. Far from it! Instead, you need to follow God’s direction, be patient, and trust that God is leading you. Don’t jump to conclusions or make assumptions. Act on God’s initiative, not your own.
Growing up in a small town, Rosalynn desired the allure of the big city lights. She couldn’t wait to turn eighteen and leave for college in some far-away big city. When she was a sophomore and junior in High School, she dreamed of going to college in Boston or Miami, Chicago or Atlanta. She didn’t like growing up in a small town where everybody knew everybody’s business. Rosalynn had dreams; big ones!
While she was a senior in High School and planning her life far from home, Rosalynn’s parents divorced. It was a huge mess, and Rosalynn struggled to deal with the implications. Because money was tight, she couldn’t afford a big-city school. She ended up at a college only fifty miles away in another small town. Throughout the whole ordeal, Rosalynn complained to God in her prayers. Why was this happening? Why had her dreams been so terribly altered? She had a hard time adapting at college. She worked two jobs just to be able to afford her tuition, room and board. She became depressed and angry.
Instead of being content in her situation and trusting God would help her through, Rosalynn stopped praying and began to drink more. She experimented with drugs. While at a party, Rosalynn met a wealthy young man. Six months later, she dropped out of college and moved in with him. For once, she didn't have to worry about money. Her boyfriend, Chuck, had more than enough money for the two of them. You should have seen his house! While she settled into her new life with Chuck, she fell further from God.
Twenty years later, Rosalynn looks back on her life as a series of mistakes. First, she gave up on God. Second, she wasn’t content with “just” going to college. She was angry that she never had the opportunity to enroll in a major college in a big city. When she ran away with Chuck, she thought living together was grand. However, when he dumped her for another woman a year and a half later, Rosalynn had to move back home with her mother. She spent several years in small jobs in her home town, with much of her money given to a counselor with whom she met once a week. However, two years later she went back to visit her home church. A few months later, she rejoined and attended worship frequently. She began to pray. She joined two groups. She traveled on mission trips. A year later, Rosalynn met the love of her life and settled down. For the past fifteen years, Rosalynn has had two children and is now very happy with her life. Still, as she looks back at her younger college days, she realizes that she didn’t listen very well to God. She didn’t trust God to help her through. When things got tough, she made all her decisions on her own without any direction from God. Inevitably, this made her very unhappy and almost ruined her life.
When you commit your way to the Lord and put your total trust in Him, the scripture for today promises that in time, the Lord will act (Psalm 37:5). God will come through. Sadly, people don’t trust in God, waiting patiently for God’s response during trying times. Instead, they plunge headfirst, often making big mistakes.
How well do you listen to God’s voice? Do you commit your way to the Lord when your world gets shaken up, or do you tend to take the reins yourself without a thought to God’s plans? Do you place enough trust in God, awaiting His direction? God will act, given the right moment. God will know when it is the perfect time to accomplish something. Don’t let situations in life control your decisions. Don’t let others dictate your future. God knows you best. God can see further along your path in life. Trust God’s guiding hand. In time, you will see God come through when you commit your way fully to a trust in His plans.