Psalm 37:3-9 (CSB), “(3) Trust in the LORD and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely. (4} Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. (5) Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act, (6) making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday. (7) Be silent before the LORD and wait expectantly for him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the person who carries out evil plans. (8) Refrain from anger and give up your rage; do not be agitated—it can only bring harm. (9) For evildoers will be destroyed, but those who put their hope in the LORD will inherit the land.”

These days are full of turbulent times. It may seem as if evil is prevailing, and authentic pursuits of Jesus are hard to find. While evil acts will always exist on this side of eternity, God is still at work changing hearts and lives, and genuine Christ-followers exist and are bringing glory to the Heavenly Father. So, how do you live Godly lives amid evil times? What are some things that can be at the forefront of our minds as we daily wake up seeking to make much of Jesus? I believe David, the shepherd boy, turned King of Israel, gives us some great insight in the 37th chapter of Psalm. I pray asking these three questions will equip you to grow in your faith and take your next steps with Jesus.

1. How can I fully trust and commit to the Lord today?

Psalm 37:3-4, “(3) Trust in the LORD and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely. (4} Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.”

God alone is our anchor and hope. Four times in this passage, the phrase “in the Lord.” Often when we have problems trusting because we don’t want to give up control. David reminds us it is only in, to, and before the Lord can we do much. We often lose our way because we have taken our eyes off the very One who guides and sustains. There is no such thing as half-hearted obedience. You are either all in to Christ and His ways, or you are not. When we are fully pursuing Jesus, he will change our heart’s desires. Look at verse four—this is a popular “coffee mug” verse of Scripture that is often taken out of context. When we delight ourselves in the Lord, we will never ask for something that will only benefit us.

When we delight ourselves in the Lord, we will never ask for something that will only benefit us.

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2. How can I pursue righteousness (what is good and holy) today?

Psalm 37:5-6, “(5) Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act, (6) making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday.”

The path to pursuing righteousness: Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. To accomplish a healthy pursuit of Christ, we must realize His way is better than our own, and He works according to His will, not our own. You are pursuing righteousness (what is good and holy) when you get to a place where your filter is the finished work of Jesus Christ. You begin to think and deal with circumstances by asking questions such as: What is the most Christ-like manner I can view this situation or person?

Where are you on the path of pursuing righteousness?

3. When am I going to stop and be still before the Lord today?

Psalm 37:7-9, “(7) Be silent before the LORD and wait expectantly for him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the person who carries out evil plans. (8) Refrain from anger and give up your rage; do not be agitated—it can only bring harm. (9) For evildoers will be destroyed, but those who put their hope in the LORD will inherit the land.”

Godly living is probable when we rest in Him. Notice verse seven again. “Be silent before the LORD and wait expectantly for him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the person who carries out evil plans.” Waiting is hard. Abiding in Christ tends to be comfortable when our next steps are clear. From our perspective, when we see things are unclear, it is natural to fear and question what God is doing. In these moments, lean into what David is writing in this passage—be still and wait expectantly. God is always at work, even when we don’t see the full picture.

Asking these three questions and then acting on them will put us on the road to fully committing to Jesus and His ways. Often, we wake up, think about our day, and then hit the accelerator and go. It’s vital that we walk closely with Jesus, not run ahead of Him or drag our feet behind Him.

It’s vital that we walk closely with Jesus, not run ahead of Him or drag our feet behind Him.

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