A few years ago, I did a Beth Moore study through the Psalms of Ascent (120-133), and it quickly become a really needed study for me, as well as the friends I studied it with, for many different reasons, but the biggest one was this: rewriting the psalms we studied—making them personal. She led us to keep the ideas intact, but to let the Spirit speak them over us. And I fell in love with that weekly exercise.
So this past weekend, as I spent extended time alone with the Lord, I rewrote a psalm He has been speaking through these past few months. And I wanted to share it, with the vision that He’ll not only speak through it, but also bring to mind a psalm that you love, that He wants to speak over you in a new way.
Psalm 37
He Won’t Leave Me
Do not inwardly calculate against yourself
because of evil’s calculations;
Do not jealously think that the wrongdoers
somehow have it better than you!
For they will pass away like grass.
Is that what I will do with you?
No—I ask this instead:
Trust Me, and do good by obeying Me.
STAY where you are
and be faithful to what I call you to.
Delight yourself in Me,
make your desires Mine,
and I’ll give you your dreams—
dreams of Me that will come true.
Lay down your every step at My feet;
stay on My heels in love & trust,
and I will act on your behalf.
I will make righteousness your dawn
and justice your highest sun.
Quiet your heart before Me.
Stop thinking, stop planning—
wait for My next move.
Don’t calculate against yourself
based on the calculations of
the evil ones around you;
Their prosperous plans are momentary.
Don’t choose anger if things don’t go your way.
Stop calculating—
It’s only going to lead you away from Me,
as if you are in control.
Those who think they are
will be cut off.
But those who wait for My control to work things out
will receive their inheritance—
the very place where their feet stand—
the promised land.
In just a little while, the wicked will be gone.
You can look for him—he won’t be there!
But those bridled by My care will receive the land
and will receive the abundance of peace
that I promised them.
The wicked plots against My own
and schemes with his spit,
but I laugh at them,
for they will not stand!
The wicked plan for battle—
wielding swords and bows
to bring the easy prey down.
But the battle is for their own hearts—
and they will lose.
Even My people’s lack is worth far more
than the wicked’s spoil.
For the wicked will be broken,
but My people will be upheld.
I am intimately acquainted
with the day-in-day-out lives of My people,
and their legacy will last;
evil days will not shake their hope;
famine cannot quench their abundance.
But the wicked will die;
my enemies are like grass—
glorious for a moment,
then forever vanished—
“sown, grown, blown, mown.”
The evil ones borrow but never repay;
My people are known by their generosity,
Because they are blessed by Me,
and have an inheritance worth far more than gold.
Those cursed by Me have no inheritance but the sword.
Every man’s steps are accomplished by Me,
when I AM their delight.
He still may stumble,
but he will not fall;
I will uphold him by the hand.
I do not forsake the righteous—
you’ve seen My faithfulness yourself!
Blessings flow from Me to your family!
So return to Me, stay with Me;
instead of evil, do good.
That’s how you will dwell from this day on.
For I love justice;
I will not forsake those I’ve justified!
I’ll preserve them,
but not the wicked ones.
Those whom I’ve made right
will have their inheritance—
this land on which they stand.
They’ll stay here, with Me.
And I’ll give her words
of wisdom and justice.
I’ll hide My words in her heart
and keep her feet secure upon the heights.
Though the wicked watch,
ready to crush My own—
I won’t abandon! I won’t condemn!
Wait for Me—let Me do the acting for now—
and I will lift you up from the ashes
to the heights.
You’ll see My justice reign,
My glory known.
You’ve seen this already,
though on a much smaller scale.
I’ll let you see the other side now, too—
for there is a future
for you who pursue peace!
But there is no future
for those who cling to their sin.
Salvation is Mine, and from Me.
I am a stronghold of peace
in your troubled sea.
I help & deliver; I rescue & save—
because they’ve turned to Me,
My prisoners of hope.
