Psalm 73 MSG;  No doubt about it! God is good—good to good people, good to the good-hearted. But I nearly missed it, missed seeing his goodness. I was looking the other way, looking up to the people at the top, envying the wicked who have it made, Who have nothing to worry about, not a care in the whole wide world.  Pretentious with arrogance, they wear the latest fashions in violence, pampered and overfed, decked out in silk bows of silliness. They jeer, using words to kill; they bully their way with words. They’re full of hot air, loudmouths disturbing the peace. People actually listen to them—can you believe it? Like thirsty puppies, they lap up their words.  What’s going on here? Is God out to lunch? Nobody’s tending the store. The wicked get by with everything; they have it made, piling up riches. I’ve been stupid to play by the rules; what has it gotten me? A long run of bad luck, that’s what—a slap in the face every time I walk out the door.  If I’d have given in and talked like this, I would have betrayed your dear children. Still, when I tried to figure it out, all I got was a splitting headache . . .Until I entered the sanctuary of God. Then I saw the whole picture: The slippery road you’ve put them on, with a final crash in a ditch of delusions. In the blink of an eye, disaster! A blind curve in the dark, and—nightmare! We wake up and rub our eyes. . . . Nothing. There’s nothing to them. And there never was.  When I was beleaguered and bitter, totally consumed by envy, I was totally ignorant, a dumb ox in your very presence. I’m still in your presence, but you’ve taken my hand. You wisely and tenderly lead me, and then you bless me. You’re all I want in heaven! You’re all I want on earth! When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, God is rock-firm and faithful. Look! Those who left you are falling apart! Deserters, they’ll never be heard from again. But I’m in the very presence of God—oh, how refreshing it is! I’ve made Lord God my home. God, I’m telling the world what you do!

Well, that was long, wasn’t it? But so worth the read! I love listening to David be real with God. Although he was king, although he was ‘man after God’s own heart’, he still struggled with the same things as we do. I don’t know about you, but there have been times in my walk with the Lord that I wondered the same things. Why are the wicked so successful? Why does everyone listen to them? Why do people so readily turn from God to pursue the almighty dollar? Why do they appear successful in everything they do? It just doesn’t seem right or fair, does it! 

As I lay in bed at 3:00 am, struggling to go back to sleep for another 2 hours, I just decided to turn my attention onto God. Part of a song I’ve been listening to began to play in my head as if the Lord was speaking, “You don’t have to do a thing, simply be with me and wait on me a little longer. I’m in love with you.” So I began to declare my love for Him, my answer, my beautiful King. For an hour I became consumed with finding words to describe the faithfulness of my God, to honor him with my time as I snuggled under the blankets. Soon I found myself unable to contain the overwhelming presence I felt. The more I gave, the more I got. I washed his feet with my tears and felt his tender touch on my senses as if there was no distinction between spirit and flesh.

I never did fall back to sleep, but how refreshed I felt when I climbed out of bed at 4:00. I folded my laundry, ironed some clothes, cleaned up my kitchen and put the clutter away, all while meditating on the sweet love of God. Things change when you focus on the Lord. Your perspective of the wicked, the problems that overwhelmed you yesterday, the buried hurts of your past, gone. Just as our sins were washed away by the blood of the lamb, so our cares are no longer there. They’re now carried by Him, it’s what he’s been waiting for. The exchange was made when I lay in bed, worshipping and loving on Jesus.

Father, “There’s no place I’d rather be! No place I’d rather be! No place I’d rather be, then here in your arms, here in your arms!” My mighty fortress, my tender forgiver, my avenger, my gentle lover, my strong tower, my shepherd, my King, my friend. You always hear me! You never turn a deaf ear to me, ever! What a wonderful confidant. You keep all my moments with you locked up in your treasure chest until they become shiny gems, then you shower me with blessings until my heart is bursting with joy unspeakable. When I sleep, you watch over me. When I awake, you sit on my bed and wait patiently for me to speak of my love to you. You are a perfect husband and all I need comes from you. Thank You, Lord. Until tomorrow then.