Growing in the Right Direction A Special Message for the New Year Psalm 37:1-40 January 6, 2013 Pastor Paul K. Kim

A TALE OF A WELL-MEANING FARMER We would never make the same mistake... BUT in our relationship with God, why is it that we tend to make the same mistakes over and over?

NEW YEAR: AN OPPORTUNE TIME FOR GROWTH... BUT IN WHAT DIRECTION? Not all growth is healthy: ingrown toenail, cancer, debt, body fat, etc. Not-so-obvious “growth in the wrong direction”: worry/fret, moral-compromise/wrongdoing, stress/anger, greed/pride, etc. By nature, Christian growth requires: changing the direction of our growth. The new/right direction is not about: us [self] but about God— trusting God as we surrender ourselves.

HOW DO YOU GROW IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION —TOWARD TRUSTING GOD? 1) Begin with RELINQUISHING YOUR CONTROL of the universe— including your own life (vs. 1, 7, 8, 11). 1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! 7 Be still before the Lord... fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! 8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. 11 But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. Psalm 37:1, 7, 8, 11

HOW DO YOU GROW IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION —TOWARD TRUSTING GOD? 1) Begin with RELINQUISHING YOUR CONTROL of the universe— including your own life (vs. 1, 7, 8, 11). 1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! 7 Be still before the Lord... fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! 8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. 11 But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. Psalm 37:1, 7, 8, 11

HOW DO YOU GROW IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION —TOWARD TRUSTING GOD? 1) Begin with RELINQUISHING YOUR CONTROL of the universe— including your own life (vs. 1, 7, 8, 11). It will lead you…  To avoid fuming and fussing. —“Fret not... be not envious of wrongdoers”  To release toxic anger. — “Refrain from anger and forsake wrath”  To find peace and rest in your heart. —“the meek will…delight themselves in abundant peace”

HOW DO YOU GROW IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION —TOWARD TRUSTING GOD? 2) Keep LAYING DOWN YOUR LIFE to the LORD (vs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. 7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

HOW DO YOU GROW IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION —TOWARD TRUSTING GOD? 2) Keep LAYING DOWN YOUR LIFE to the LORD (vs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). LAYING DOWN your life means…  It means to LAY DOWN your burdens to God through a fourfold daily practice: (1) “Trust in the LORD…” (2) “Delight yourself in the LORD...” (3) “Commit your way to the LORD…” (4) “Be still before the LORD...”

HOW DO YOU GROW IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION —TOWARD TRUSTING GOD? 2) Keep LAYING DOWN YOUR LIFE to the LORD (vs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). LAYING DOWN your life means…  It means to LAY DOWN your burdens to God through a fourfold daily practice: (1) “Trust in the LORD…” (2) “Delight yourself in the LORD...” (3) “Commit your way to the LORD…” (4) “Be still before the LORD...” [they are to be one connected practice of faith.]

HOW DO YOU GROW IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION —TOWARD TRUSTING GOD? 2) Keep LAYING DOWN YOUR LIFE to the LORD (vs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). LAYING DOWN your life means…  It means to LAY DOWN your burdens to God through a fourfold daily practice: (1) trust, (2) delight, (3) Commit, and (4) Be still.  It means to seek YOUR SATISFACTION in the LORD. — “ He will give you the desires of your life...” —“He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”

HOW DO YOU GROW IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION —TOWARD TRUSTING GOD? 2) Keep LAYING DOWN YOUR LIFE to the LORD (vs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). LAYING DOWN your life means…  It means to LAY DOWN your burdens to God through a fourfold daily practice: (1) trust, (2) delight, (3) Commit, and (4) Be still.  It means to seek YOUR SATISFACTION in the LORD.  It means ceasing to strive in your own strengths. —“Be still and rest in the Lord…” [v.7a, AMP] —“...patiently lean yourself upon Him” [v.7b, AMP]

HOW DO YOU GROW IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION —TOWARD TRUSTING GOD? 2) Keep LAYING DOWN YOUR LIFE to the LORD (vs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). LAYING DOWN your life means…  It means to LAY DOWN your burdens to God through a fourfold daily practice: (1) trust, (2) delight, (3) Commit, and (4) Be still.  It means to seek YOUR SATISFACTION in the LORD.  It means ceasing to strive in your own strengths.  Practically, it means laying down the SPECIFIC AREAS OF YOUR LIFE to the LORD and trust in God’s guidance & care. —“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will act.”

HOW DO YOU GROW IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION —TOWARD TRUSTING GOD?  Practically, it means laying down the SPECIFIC AREAS OF YOUR LIFE to the LORD and trust in God’s guidance & care. —“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will act.” things that worry you most these days financial needs/provisions for family worries about health, safety, and life of your loved ones your children’s wellbeing/future problems/conflicts in your marriage future plans, hopes/dreams, & the desires of your heart your strengths, experiences, knowledge, & talents things that you feel stuck in & hopeless about success/fruits of your work, business, ministry/church life-altering decisions: future mate, career change, etc. desire to be recognized or vindicated

HOW DO YOU GROW IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION —TOWARD TRUSTING GOD? 3) Be sure to WAIT FOR THE LORD not for something/someone else—staying the course (vs. 9, 27, 34, 39, 40). 9 For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. 27 Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. 34 Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off. 39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. 40 The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him. Psalm 37:9, 27, 34, 39, 40

HOW DO YOU GROW IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION —TOWARD TRUSTING GOD? 3) Be sure to WAIT FOR THE LORD not for something/someone else—staying the course (vs. 9, 27, 34, 39, 40). What does it mean?

Waiting for the LORD Means... Waiting for God is not laziness. Waiting for God is not going to sleep. Waiting for God is not the abandonment of effort. Waiting for God means, first, activity under command; second, readiness for any new command that may come; third, the ability to do nothing until the command is given. – G. Campbell Morgan

HOW DO YOU GROW IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION —TOWARD TRUSTING GOD? 3) Be sure to WAIT FOR THE LORD not for something/someone else—staying the course (vs. 9, 27, 34, 39, 40). Why wait for the LORD?  Faith requires choosing to hope in God. —“Hope/wait in the LORD… and keep his way”  Faith requires our faithfulness in doing good. —“Turn away from evil and do good... shall you dwell forever”  Faith requires patient waiting. —“Wait patiently for the LORD… he will exalt you”  Faith requires turning to God as our Deliverer. —“The LORD helps and delivers them… they take refuge in him”

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.In what current circumstance(s) of my life do I need to relinquish my control to God? If so, what will I stop doing? 2.What specific things/areas do I need to lay down to the LORD? If so, what will I start doing? 3.What would it mean for me to wait for the LORD in the New Year 2013?