Peace On The Run

Psalm 4

4:1

Answer me when I call to you,
    O God who declares me innocent.
Free me from my troubles.
    Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

You have to understand that the Lord hears your prayers. He is sees you through the blood of his son Jesus Christ. You are a new creation in Christ and His blood washes you clean.

4:2

How long will you people ruin my reputation?
    How long will you make groundless accusations?
    How long will you continue your lies?

It is important that we understand reality in our lives. David is making a declaration of reality before the Lord. We serve a God who can part seas, make rivers in the desert, and raise the dead. Your reality is before him as well. He sees you in the middle of the mess.

4:3

You can be sure of this:
    The Lord set apart the godly for himself.
    The Lord will answer when I call to him.

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of that the Lord will answer our prayers. He has set us apart and we are sons and daughters of the King. Just as a father will always listen to his children in all circumstances, our Father is eager to hear our prayers and will answer us when we call on Him.

4:4-5

Don’t sin by letting anger control you.
    Think about it overnight and remain silent. Interlude
Offer sacrifices in the right spirit,
    and trust the Lord

It is not a sin to be angry. The Bible tells us not to sin in our anger. We all get frustrated from time to time, but we must stop letting anger control you. Think about the situation over night and choose to remain silent until you have calmed down. Handle that messy situation with the fruit of the Spirit, grace and truth. We have all messed up and those who have wronged us need to see the grace and love of the Lord and how it covers a multitude of sin.

4:6-8

Many people say, “Who will show us better times?”
    Let your face smile on us, Lord.
You have given me greater joy
    than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.
In peace I will lie down and sleep,
    for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

Today, begin your trust walk with the Lord. It is always a good idea to repeat what God’s Word says about God and what it says about you. Here we find the end of a great Psalm. David is declaring that the Lord has given him greater joy than those who have it all. Remember, this was written when David was running from his son, Absalom, who was going to take over his kingdom, an inside coup, the worst kind. Even in the middle of all that, David reminds himself of the goodness of God. Finally, he declares he will lie down and sleep in peace because the Lord will watch over him.

God’s Word is laid out for us, and the Holy Spirit reveals and teaches it to us. Instead of reading chapters of the Bible, begin a verse-by-verse understanding of it. That is the way the Holy Spirit has been speaking to me for many years. Soon enough, you will start to remember all those verses, and the Holy Spirit will help you recall them in times of need. Don’t let life chase your faith away to a place where you cannot find it. Remember, it only takes a mustard seed measure of faith, and you can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). That is only one verse.

Prayer: Father, help us to read your Word verse by verse. Help us to let the Holy Spirit mold us into giants of faith in you, Lord. I pray that when life is chasing us down, we would read this Psalm and gain comfort and peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.