The Peace That Dwells Within

Psalm 37:1-8

By David F. Reagan

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INTRODUCTION: The saints are told three times to “fret not” (v.1, 7, 8). Fret comes from a root word meaning to eat or to devour. It is a gnawing away through constant thoughts of discontent. It does not bring immediate destruction, but slowly and gradually eats away at our peace of mind and heart. It is illustrated by the “fretting leprosy” of the law (Leviticus 13:51-52). But God offers the peace “which passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). We will find that Jesus Christ is the only solution to the disease of a fretting heart. This passage gives four steps that will cure the fretting heart.

I. TRUST (37:3); to trust is to believe; to have complete confidence in

A. Trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 26:3-4)

B. Trust and Do Good (1Timothy 4:10)

C. Trust to Dwell in the Land (John 15:4-5)

D. Trust for the Needed Provision (Psalm 81:10)

II. DELIGHT (37:4)

A. Our Delights

1. To delight is to take pleasure in

2. We are to delight:

a. In the Lord

b. In His word (Psalm 1:2; Jeremiah 15:16)

c. In His will (Psalm 40:8)

d. In His children (1John 5:1)

B. Our Desires

1. Formed in us (Philippians 2:13)

2. Granted to us (Psalm 84:11)

III. COMMIT (37:5)

A. Commit Your Way (Matthew 6:25-34)

B. Increase Your Faith – “trust also in him” (Romans 1:17)

C. Be Confident of His Fulfillment – “he shall bring it to pass” (1Thessalonians 5:24)

IV. REST (37:7)

A. Rest in the Lord (Hebrews 4:9-10)

B. Wait Patiently For Him (Psalm 27:14; Lamentations 3:26)

CONCLUSION: Andrew Murray in The Spiritual Life (p.232-233) tells of the lady who committed most of her jewels to a friend when she travel and took a few with her. When she returned, the jewels that were committed to her friend were safe and returned to her but the jewels she had kept with her had been stolen. So it is so often with Christ. What we commit to Him remains safe. What we keep to ourselves is lost.

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