A Prayer about Not Fretting Evil
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.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret— it leads only to evil.
For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. (Ps. 37:7–9 NIV)
Faithful Father, you send your Word with Swiss timing and uncanny precision. Whenever I’m vexed or fretful, you anticipate it. Whenever I’m confused or anxious, you’ve already spoken wisdom about the matter in multiple places in the Scriptures. Whenever I feel vulnerable or angry, you come to me in the Bible and bring me back to gospel sanity, time and time again. How I praise you for the counsel and consolation of your Word.
Today, Father, I’m a bit worked up over the apparent success of those who bring harm to others and even get rewarded for their madness. Whether it’s in the global reach of terrorism, the on going shenanigans of Wall Street, the seizing of aid marked for poor countries, or even the self indulgent world of sports and athletics, violations of beauty and goodness are everywhere. How long, O Lord, before you send Jesus back to put all things right?
Your answer to me today in this Scripture is just what I need. You won’t give me a date, but as always, you do give me yourself. I hear you loud and clear, Father. You’re speaking stillness and fretless waiting to my heart. No good comes from my obsessing about evil and evil making. Nothing profitable results from my spending extra time fertilizing my anger and fueling my disgust.
A day is coming when the knowledge of your glory will cover the entire earth as the waters cover the sea. The whole world, not just one small and important bit of real estate in the Middle East, is holy land. The New Jerusalem is coming down from heaven, not a day early and not a day late.
Until that day, I will seek to seek first the kingdom of God and the righteousness of King Jesus. How I praise you that the very righteousness with which you have already robed me is the very righteousness with which you are going to fill the earth. You’ve already made me both your son and an heir of the new heaven and new earth! Hallelujah, what a Savior! Hallelujah, what a salvation! I pray in Jesus’ powerful name.
Amen.