The Sleep of Holy Confidence

Psalm 3:5 (NKJV)

I lay down and slept;

I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. 

David was being hunted down by his son. His life was sought after by his own people. Was he scared? Yes! He was scared and went into hiding. Yet, his confidence was in the Lord. David was not only scared, but also hurt emotionally. There was a turmoil within him. In spite of it all, he chose to trust the Lord. He could confidently rest and find his peace in the Lord. He was sure that the Lord would never fail him. He was assured that his redemption would only come from the Lord; just like Peter in Acts 12. 

David had to be alert because of his enemies; but knowing that the Lord was his righteousness and justice, he chose to rest. When he awoke, the Lord had honoured his faith by keeping him safe and secure from his enemies. The Lord was his shield, his glory and the lifter of his head! David cried out to the Lord, and the Lord heard him from His holy hill. (Psalm 3:3,4)

The Righteous Person

In today's world, being righteous would certainly not be considered as swag! It would sound more like a person committing crime by not following the standards of this world. But what does the Bible say about a righteous person? How does God view the righteous person?

Psalm 1:1 

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked

Nor stands in the path of sinners

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful

1. Walking in the  counsel of the wicked. Counsel means direction or helpful suggestions. Everytime that we receive counsel, we need to first seek God's will in it before accepting the counsel. It is important to discern the counsel coming your way. It is important what we receive and feed our minds with, because it determines the course of our life. Continuously accepting advice from the ungodly (people who don't walk in submission to God and His word), will only lead to destruction. It is better to stay away from people who don't follow the word of God and those who take us away from the truth. 
2. Standing in the path of sinners. You cannot fellowship with a sinner and avoid staying away from sin. Our company, people with whom we fellowship, matters.  
3. Sitting in the seat of the scornful. Spending time with people who dishonour God is as good as dishonouring God ourselves. This will only make us forget God's goodness and walk against the will of God. And, for God, obedience is better than sacrifice. (1Samuel 15:22)

Psalm 1:2-3

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by the streams of river, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, whatever he does prospers. 

The only thing that a righteous person longs for, is the presence of God. Meditatingon God's word (spending time to understand theword of God in order to live in accordance to the standards of God) is of utmost importance. It becomes easier for such a person to avoid listening to people who guide him/her against what God wants. Such a person won't mock God, even if it seems like everyone else does.  

God's Spirit is the river that flows by you and offers you all the life and strength you need. When you receive your life from the Holy Spirit, you're always able to succeed in God's eyes, even if everything around you seems out of control.