1 00:00:02,710 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 1: Life Audio Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture, 2 00:00:13,740 --> 00:00:18,660 Speaker 1: a calming, Scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end 3 00:00:18,820 --> 00:00:22,020 Speaker 1: each day with God's Word in your mind and on 4 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 1: your heart. Right after this short word from our sponsors, 5 00:00:27,980 --> 00:00:41,950 Speaker 1: we'll reflect on tonight's Scripture and Psalm 37. Tonight's scripture 6 00:00:41,990 --> 00:00:46,690 Speaker 1: reflection is written by Rachel Britton and read by Leah Gerard. 7 00:00:47,650 --> 00:00:55,420 Speaker 1: Psalms chapter 37. Do not fret because of those who 8 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: are evil or be envious of those who do wrong. 9 00:01:00,370 --> 00:01:04,330 Speaker 1: For like the grass, they will soon wither. Like green plants, 10 00:01:05,150 --> 00:01:09,209 Speaker 1: they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and 11 00:01:09,270 --> 00:01:13,670 Speaker 1: do good. Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 12 00:01:14,430 --> 00:01:17,709 Speaker 1: Take delight in the Lord and He will give you 13 00:01:17,930 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 1: the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord. 14 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:26,940 Speaker 1: Trust in Him and He will do this. He will 15 00:01:26,980 --> 00:01:31,380 Speaker 1: make your righteous reward shine like the dawn. your vindication 16 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and 17 00:01:36,420 --> 00:01:42,110 Speaker 1: wait patiently for him. Do not fret when people succeed 18 00:01:42,150 --> 00:01:45,709 Speaker 1: in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 19 00:01:46,730 --> 00:01:50,730 Speaker 1: Refrain from anger and turn from wrath. Do not fret. 20 00:01:51,530 --> 00:01:55,580 Speaker 1: It leads only to evil. For those who are evil 21 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:59,370 Speaker 1: will be destroyed. but those who hope in the Lord 22 00:01:59,770 --> 00:02:03,910 Speaker 1: will inherit the land. A little while and the wicked 23 00:02:03,970 --> 00:02:07,010 Speaker 1: will be no more. Though you look for them, they 24 00:02:07,030 --> 00:02:10,740 Speaker 1: will not be found, but the meek will inherit the 25 00:02:10,780 --> 00:02:15,919 Speaker 1: land and enjoy peace and prosperity. The wicked plot against 26 00:02:15,980 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 1: the righteous and gnash their teeth at them, but the 27 00:02:19,460 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 1: Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day 28 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:27,590 Speaker 1: is coming. The wicked draw the sword and bend the 29 00:02:27,630 --> 00:02:31,230 Speaker 1: bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay 30 00:02:31,290 --> 00:02:36,290 Speaker 1: those whose ways are upright. But their swords will pierce 31 00:02:36,350 --> 00:02:40,730 Speaker 1: their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. Better 32 00:02:40,830 --> 00:02:44,910 Speaker 1: the little that the righteous have than the wealth of 33 00:02:45,090 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 1: many wicked, for the power of the wicked will be broken, 34 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:53,660 Speaker 1: but the Lord upholds the righteous. The blameless spend their 35 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 1: days under the Lord's care, and their inheritance will endure forever. 36 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:02,299 Speaker 1: In times of disaster, they will not wither. In days 37 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:07,540 Speaker 1: of famine, they will enjoy plenty. But the wicked will perish. 38 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:10,940 Speaker 1: Though the Lord's enemies are like the flowers of the field, 39 00:03:10,980 --> 00:03:14,350 Speaker 1: they will be consumed. They will go up in smoke. 40 00:03:14,950 --> 00:03:18,030 Speaker 1: The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous 41 00:03:18,410 --> 00:03:23,150 Speaker 1: give generously. Those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, 42 00:03:23,570 --> 00:03:27,790 Speaker 1: but those He curses will be destroyed. The Lord makes 43 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,580 Speaker 1: firm the steps of the one who delights in him. 44 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,420 Speaker 1: Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the 45 00:03:34,460 --> 00:03:38,940 Speaker 1: Lord upholds him with his hand. I was young, and 46 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,910 Speaker 1: now I am old, yet I have never seen the 47 00:03:41,940 --> 00:03:46,990 Speaker 1: righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always 48 00:03:47,130 --> 00:03:50,809 Speaker 1: generous and lend freely. Their children will be a blessing. 49 00:03:51,690 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 1: Turn from evil and do good. Then you will dwell 50 00:03:55,620 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 1: in the land forever. For the Lord loves the just 51 00:04:00,340 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 1: and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be 52 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 1: completely destroyed. The offspring of the wicked will perish. The 53 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. 54 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom and their tongues 55 00:04:16,630 --> 00:04:20,289 Speaker 1: speak what is just. The law of their God is 56 00:04:20,490 --> 00:04:23,789 Speaker 1: in their hearts. Their feet do not slip. The wicked 57 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 1: Lie and wait for the righteous, intent on putting them 58 00:04:27,180 --> 00:04:30,060 Speaker 1: to death. But the Lord will not leave them in 59 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:32,750 Speaker 1: the power of the wicked or let them be condemned 60 00:04:32,850 --> 00:04:36,150 Speaker 1: when brought to trial. Hope in the Lord and keep 61 00:04:36,190 --> 00:04:39,370 Speaker 1: His way. He will exalt you to inherit the land. 62 00:04:39,930 --> 00:04:43,170 Speaker 1: When the wicked are destroyed, you will see it. I 63 00:04:43,230 --> 00:04:46,470 Speaker 1: have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a 64 00:04:46,529 --> 00:04:51,350 Speaker 1: luxuriant native tree, but he soon passed away and was 65 00:04:51,470 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 1: no more. Though I looked for him, He could not 66 00:04:54,420 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 1: be found. Consider the blameless. Observe the upright. A future 67 00:04:59,670 --> 00:05:04,170 Speaker 1: awaits those who seek peace. But all sinners will be destroyed. 68 00:05:04,790 --> 00:05:08,770 Speaker 1: There will be no future for the wicked. The salvation 69 00:05:08,810 --> 00:05:11,810 Speaker 1: of the righteous comes from the Lord. He is their 70 00:05:11,870 --> 00:05:15,870 Speaker 1: stronghold in times of trouble. The Lord helps them and 71 00:05:15,910 --> 00:05:19,500 Speaker 1: delivers them. He delivers them from the wicked and saves 72 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:28,970 Speaker 1: them because they take refuge in him. Trusting God does 73 00:05:29,029 --> 00:05:33,750 Speaker 1: not guarantee a life free from stress or difficulty. At 74 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:37,020 Speaker 1: the end of a hard day, we may wonder why 75 00:05:37,100 --> 00:05:40,659 Speaker 1: our lives do not look more settled than the lives 76 00:05:40,740 --> 00:05:44,180 Speaker 1: of those who give little thought to God. They appear 77 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:48,740 Speaker 1: to breeze through life with effortless success and only brief upheavals. 78 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:52,719 Speaker 1: It can be frustrating and seem unfair or even hurt. 79 00:05:53,460 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 1: Yet if we're not careful, comparison looking at Someone else's 80 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:02,270 Speaker 1: green and flourishing life, while ours appears dry and difficult, 81 00:06:03,089 --> 00:06:05,849 Speaker 1: can rob us of joy and delight in the Lord. 82 00:06:05,870 --> 00:06:10,870 Speaker 1: Psalm 37 reminds us that things are not always as 83 00:06:10,930 --> 00:06:15,140 Speaker 1: they seem. Instead of fretting, we're invited to take a 84 00:06:15,260 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 1: wiser perspective. The Lord sees what we cannot see. He 85 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:25,550 Speaker 1: knows where each path leads, upholds those who trust Him, 86 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:30,130 Speaker 1: and promises to save His faithful ones. God is defending 87 00:06:30,210 --> 00:06:35,070 Speaker 1: you at this very moment. You have a secure future. 88 00:06:35,950 --> 00:06:40,190 Speaker 1: If that hope seems too distant for today's uncertainties, then 89 00:06:40,250 --> 00:06:44,250 Speaker 1: be assured that God is at work to lift you 90 00:06:44,370 --> 00:06:49,970 Speaker 1: up when people and pressures wear you down. Tonight, you 91 00:06:50,029 --> 00:06:54,310 Speaker 1: do not have to understand how God put everything right. 92 00:06:55,190 --> 00:06:59,630 Speaker 1: Commit what troubles you have into his hands. Be still 93 00:06:59,730 --> 00:07:04,610 Speaker 1: before him and wait. The God who holds your future 94 00:07:05,230 --> 00:07:13,810 Speaker 1: is also holding you steady today. Sovereign God, I give 95 00:07:13,850 --> 00:07:19,150 Speaker 1: you praise as the one whose wisdom sees clearly, rules justly, 96 00:07:19,650 --> 00:07:24,050 Speaker 1: and remains my strength, my stronghold, and my deliverer in 97 00:07:24,090 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 1: times of trouble. I must admit, when I look at 98 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:30,680 Speaker 1: the lives of those who give you little thought, they 99 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:34,940 Speaker 1: seem to have few worries. Forgive me for my envy 100 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:40,540 Speaker 1: of what seems unfair. I bring to you my frustration, anger, 101 00:07:40,620 --> 00:07:44,460 Speaker 1: and fears and lay them at your feet. Then I 102 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: choose to trust in you. Calm my heart tonight as 103 00:07:49,340 --> 00:07:52,500 Speaker 1: I dwell with you, knowing that you provide all that 104 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:56,270 Speaker 1: I need to live in safety and security. Fill my 105 00:07:56,370 --> 00:08:00,730 Speaker 1: heart with joy as I delight in you, believing that 106 00:08:00,810 --> 00:08:07,060 Speaker 1: you fulfill my deepest desires. As I'm still before you, 107 00:08:07,140 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 1: I commit all that I have and all that I 108 00:08:09,820 --> 00:08:14,220 Speaker 1: do to you. I wait patiently to see your goodness 109 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:18,410 Speaker 1: and glory. Shine your face on me so I reflect 110 00:08:18,450 --> 00:08:22,830 Speaker 1: who you are in all I think, say, and do. Amen. 111 00:08:27,370 --> 00:08:31,950 Speaker 1: How did tonight's scripture speak to you? Share your thoughts 112 00:08:32,429 --> 00:08:35,210 Speaker 1: in the Your Nightly Scripture Forum discussion. 113 00:08:43,940 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 2: Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture. Tonight's scripture 114 00:08:48,940 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 2: was read from the New International Version by Biblica. All 115 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:59,690 Speaker 2: rights reserved. Be sure to follow our sister show, Your 116 00:08:59,770 --> 00:09:05,030 Speaker 2: Daily Bible Verse, on Apple or Spotify. By following Your 117 00:09:05,110 --> 00:09:09,410 Speaker 2: Daily Bible Verse and Your Nightly Scripture, you can be 118 00:09:09,510 --> 00:09:13,770 Speaker 2: sure that your day begins and ends centered on the 119 00:09:13,820 --> 00:09:14,439 Speaker 2: Word of God. 120 00:09:27,740 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 1: Thank you.