Scripture: Psalm 37:1-8 (NIV)

1 Do not fret because of those who are evil

    or be envious of those who do wrong;

2 for like the grass they will soon wither,

    like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the Lord and do good;

    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

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 do this:

6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,

    your vindication like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the Lord

    and wait patiently for him;

do not fret when people succeed in their ways,

    when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;

    do not fret—it leads only to evil.

Reflection:
This Psalm begins with an admonition “do not fret.” It reminds me to ponder, “Do I first begin my day by fretting?”

My first thoughts are of my busy calendar and overwhelming task list. Check.
My first emotions are worry and anxiety. Check.
My first action is panicked activity to make lunches, get children to school, and get myself to work. Check. 

Task lists for the day become sources of anxiety and panic, and this anxiety and panic quickly consume every activity for the day. There is no time for pause, no time to calm down, no time to take things as they come. It’s just, “go, go, go.” When anxiety takes over, that task list can quickly go from being just a list of things that need to get done to my own, personal enemy. 

I need to take this psalm’s warning to heart: “do not fret – it leads only to evil.” (verse 8)

When I see my calendar and tasks as overwhelming, I become anxious. Anxiety can lead to anger, and down the slippery slope, I go.

Is there perhaps an alternative to this? Does Jesus offer me something more than a to-do list ever could? Where can I focus my attention? I will accept this gentle invitation to focus on God and I will find peace.

This Psalm offers me of my new to-do list; a list that leads to freedom.

  1. Trust in the Lord and do good (verse 3)
    Trust that God can give me the strength to handle my calendar and tasks and do the next right thing.
  2. Delight in the Lord (verse 4)
    Let my first task of the day be spending time with God, enjoying his goodness and exercising gratitude for it.
  3. Commit my way to the Lord (verse 5)
    Give everything in my life – my family, my job, my possessions – to God’s control and guidance. God can handle it best.
  4. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently (verse 7)
    Trust and wait for God to work out what is best for me. Rest in his love and protection.
  5. “Hope in the Lord and keep His way.” – Psalm 37:34

Centering our daily schedules on our relationship with God doesn’t remove stressful tasks from our list. There is a gulf of a difference between tackling that to-do list with a spirit of anxiety and a spirit of peace. The tasks are still the same. We still have to wake the kids up and get them ready for the day. We still have the same work to accomplish, the same house to clean, the same bills to pay, and the list goes on. But including God in our schedule gives us a renewed vision for our day-to-day—a vision that sees God as working with us and through us, even in the most menial tasks. We can exercise gratitude for that.

Closing Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for David and his inspiration to write Psalm 37. Thank you for the invitation to try something new today. Set me free from the fretting and teach me your way of deep trust. Commit my new to-do list to my memory and heart. Help me to hope in you and keep your way. Thank you for your love and goodness to me. Amen.