Scripture for Today: Psalm 4:1 “Answer me when I call to You, my righteous God.  Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.”

Being relieved of duty is not always something negative.  It can simply mean a change of command.  One person relieves the other of duty and then takes it on themselves, as in someone taking over a shift.  Pictured here is a change of command ceremony for the Blue crew of the USS Nebraska submarine.

Today’s verse is a cry of David for relief.   He ends the psalm with lying down in peace and sleep (verse 8).  David has found relief in his confident trust in the Lord.  His circumstances had not changed at all.  What changed was his focus.  And his focus changed as a result of his prayer.  Prayer does that.  It relieves a heart bowed down with worry.  Prayer relieves the heavy burden of sadness.  Prayer reminds us that we are not alone or forgotten.  He is there to relieve us from any distress we feel.  That is true relief.

My problems can seem insignificant compared to those of David.  But I do need relief during this unique time of pandemic.  There needs to be a “change of command” as I give everything over to the Lord.  He never means for me to have the “duty” of keeping it all together.  And just like David I can experience peaceful sleep.  He gives a peace that defies explanation (Phil. 4:7) and that guards my heart and mind.  I am relieved of duty as HE takes over the job Himself of creating peace in my heart.  He is willing and waiting to relieve me.

May my prayer to Him today end with a sigh of relief.

Scripture for Today: Philippians 2:3b-4 “…in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Chivalry is many times thought to be an outmoded idea.  But not for the male field cricket!  After a thousand hours of infrared camera observations of tagged crickets, scientists made some surprising findings.  When threatened by a bird or frog, the males give their females priority when crawling into safe burrows!  This self-sacrificing behavior, never seen in lab studies, leads to reproductive success!

Today’s verse does not use the word, “chivalry,” but certainly has the idea of treating others well.  Our concern should not be only for our own interests.  A believer is to be concerned about the interests of others as well.  To treat others’ needs as more important than our own can only come from an attitude of humility.  And that humility is not something that comes naturally.  What comes naturally is to put oneself first.

In these strange times of worldwide pandemic, it is easy for me to think uniquely of myself and my own needs.  Staying inside is not only for myself but also in the interest of others.  However, sacrificing my freedoms for the sake of another is not so easy.  It is not easy to ask interested questions about another’s welfare and not have them return the favor.  It is difficult to allow another to go first when pressed for time.  Yet, this is what Jesus asks of me.  My life and my health are in His hands along with all my interests, goals and needs.  I can afford to be gracious and others-centered.  He has all my desires and interests at heart and I can trust Him.

Lord, help me show the kind of self-sacrificing love You showed to me!

Photo Credit: Elgaland Vargaland, https://www.flickr.com/photos/foam/

Scripture for Today: Psalm 37:7 “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.”

Rubbing a “worry stone” is supposed to create a sense of relaxation.  These smooth polished gem stones are oval-shaped with a thumb sized indentation.  The idea is to rub one’s thumb over and over the smooth surface.  This self-soothing exercise is touted to generate a sense of calmness and is sometimes used for refugees or children with post traumatic stress.  Whether they are called palm, thumb, fidget or soothing stones the idea is to make the mind more relaxed.

Today’s verse tell us what to do when worried and fretting over those who seem to get away with wrongdoing.  We are to be still.  We are to wait patiently in His presence for Him to act.  The wicked seem to prosper but sooner or later there will be consequences they will have to face.  This knowledge of God’s perfect justice calms the spirit and erases the tendency to be worried and fretful.  No one gets away with anything.  God will not be mocked and whatever is sown will be reaped (Gal. 6:7).

I do not need a worry stone to calm down about the success of the God-mockers.  I am to wait for Him.  He promises a reward of peace and prosperity (verse 11).  He upholds me (verse 17) and I am under His watchful care (verse 18). What beautiful promises!  They calm my heart and relax my mind more than any self-soothing exercise can do.  He sees and He knows.  And He is faithful to execute perfect justice when we ourselves are wronged.  I serve a mighty, all-knowing God and nothing, no matter how seemingly small, escapes His attention.

Thank you Lord, for the peace of Your perfect justice.