"A Daily Vacation for the Soul"

Psalm 37

¹      Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

²      For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

³      Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

⁴      Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

⁵      Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

⁶      And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

⁷      Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

⁸      Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in anywise to do evil.

Do you ever feel like getting in the car and just driving until you can drive no more?  Dream of vacation on a secluded beach or an Alaskan cruise?  I believe we've all thought of some type of get-away.  Some people I know just count down their days to their next vacation.  What about the other fifty weeks?

In reality, we cannot live just to get away.  "Life is just so daily", as I've seen on a cartoon.  On days where your calendar is packed with appointments, meetings, and errands, you feel like you really need a vacation.  I felt that way the other morning (should I get out of bed or not?)  and then I read this particular passage.  It was just as if my counselor, Jesus, was giving me some personal instructions for my day. 

1. Fret not - "Don't worry!" this can cause wrinkles!

2. Envy not - "She got...I didn't..." - this can be a root of hatred, bitterness, etc. (Also can cause wrinkles!)

3. Trust and do good - this is a faith exercise and physical application of right - "do good" and you'll feel better about your day

4. Delight in the Lord - doing this will cause a smile and pleasant countenance, good for the spirit and also an anti-depressant

5. Commit thy way - This results in single-mindedness and  steadfastness in the faith

6. Rest and wait - If your soul and mind are at rest you can endure.  Your body needs appropriate rest, too.  Waiting might be the hardest thing to do, but find a productive activity to do while you wait for an answer from the Lord.  Never roll over and "play dead".

7. Cease from anger and forsake wrath - Ok, no more road rage!  I'm talking about myself.  There are no benefits from yelling, screaming, anger, sharp words, etc. Maybe you feel "better" afterwards but that is only because of the adrenaline rush.  I'm speaking from experience.  I can be so nice to strangers and lose my temper so quickly with my loved ones.  Hopefully, they'll say that I have improved over the years.  I hope so.  Sometimes our low tolerance for others can be a physical problem, we may need some vitamins, minerals, or just some quiet time alone with the Lord.  Check out all possibilities.  It's not worth losing your testimony for the Lord because of a short fuse.  I don't believe Jesus was a door slammer.

Try having a "daily vacation" for your soul.  Pour a cup of coffee, shut the door, snuggle in your favorite chair, and talk to the Lord.