We are living in times that can quickly provoke the soul to agitation, even anger, everywhere we turn if we are not diligent to “trust in the Lord.”
Here in the United States, election years always release a spirit of division, opposition, and agitation. This election year is like no other; the battle is on a whole different level and the landscape feels like the beginnings of a civil war. Now we have added the Supreme Court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the already charged atmosphere. If you watch those hearings for five minutes, you are sure to become agitated no matter what side you are on!
We must go up higher in our spiritual posture and let our roots go deeper into the soil of His ways. God’s people can stand up for righteousness, goodness, and truth without stirring up the atmosphere with soulish agitation. We must remember that we are on the brink of a literal civil war here in America, therefore, we need to be those who hold the standard of truth in righteousness. We have authority to shift atmospheres through our worship, our words, our intercession, and our love— let us not be the tripwire that takes us from civil unrest to civil war!
Psalm 37 is an excellent guide for these times. The very first verse instructs us on how to conduct and restrain our souls,
“Do not be agitated by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong. For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender green plants.” Psalms 37:1-2
DO NOT BE AGITATED! They spring up quickly but wilt before becoming strong or mighty tree— they wilt like tender green plants. Psalm 37 goes on to say,
“Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act, making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday. Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the man who carries out evil plans.” Psalms 37:3-7
This past January the Lord moved our family to the Washington D.C. region from the West Coast. He was very clear in His instructions to “dwell in the land” as 2020 began. We had no idea why or what was coming but the one thing we carry with us (no matter where He sends us) are the instructions from Psalm 37:3, “Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely.” Our favorite version says, “…dwell in the land cultivate faithfulness.” That is what we do!
As God moves us to a new location we first establish our trust in the Lord and do what is good before Him and to those around us. Then we cultivate faithfulness— we live by faith, we plant seeds of trust, we practice peace and ask Him to “dwell with us.” Then we watch Him act on our behalf and on behalf of the people and land that He has placed us in.
The only other thing that we came to this region carrying was a powerful prophetic dream that I had in May 2019 of seeing “In God We Trust” restored in our nation. So, once again we cultivate trust— then we know that— “He will act, making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like noonday.”
We moved to a city just south of DC that is the home of the national ministry (movement) called, “Awaken the Dawn” so when I read, “making your righteousness shine like the dawn”, I know that we are called to awaken righteousness and a movement of righteousness from this place through prayer and worship. We are in DC weekly where there is a hearing regarding justice happening even now— God will act and make our justice come forth like the noonday. HE WILL ACT AS WE TRUST! Noon is coming.
We are the Church and it is up to us to cultivate faithfulness and trust in the place that He has planted each of us! You may wonder why you are in the city or state that you are but let me suggest that you are there to cultivate the land, to hold the line, and to establish righteousness and justice through your commitment to walking in HIS WAYS!
Let’s not cultivate agitation! We become agitated when we do not understand our enemy! Our enemy wants to provoke us so that we focus on being robbed, cheated, lied to, and deceived. Though these things are true, and always have been, we are merely seeing with 20/20 vision now. The shift and change will not come through weapons of the flesh but through weapons of the Spirit! Peace, trust, righteousness, faithfulness, and walking in His ways will cause God to act! Refrain from anger!
Let’s look at another few verses from Psalm 37,
“Refrain from anger and give up your rage; do not be agitated — it can only bring harm. For evildoers will be destroyed, but those who put their hope in the Lord will inherit the land.” Psalms 37:8-9
It’s time to inherit the land! But anger and agitation will only bring harm! God will destroy evildoers as we put our hope in the Lord and refrain from soulish reactions. The humble will inherit the land— not the arrogant evildoers who seek to provoke you to leave your place of trust and engage in their divisive and hateful tactics. Verse 11 says,
“But the humble will inherit the land and will enjoy abundant prosperity.” Psalms 37:11
It goes on to say, “The wicked person schemes against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him. The Lord laughs at him because He sees that his day is coming.” Psalms 37:12-13
Psalm 37 is a verse for this time! It paints a picture of how we are position ourselves to inherit the land and to prosper. I greatly admonish you to heed His instruction by refraining from agitation, the ways of the world, and the provocation of the enemy. Trust in the Lord and do good— then God will act!
I also greatly encourage you to read, study, and meditate in Psalm 37 during this time because it is His wise instruction of how to inherit the land.
“Wait for the Lord and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land. You will watch when the wicked are destroyed. I have seen a wicked, violent man well-rooted like a flourishing native tree. Then I passed by and noticed he was gone; I searched for him, but he could not be found. Watch the blameless and observe the upright, for the man of peace will have a future.” Psalms 37:34-37
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Inscribe Ministries
Featured Image byPhoto by Justin Veenema on Unsplash.
