Do not fret — it only causes harm, says the Psalmist. To fret is to be anxious and continually worry over a problem or a situation. And it causes harm; not only to our own health and well-being, but also to those around us. It is said that bad news travels faster; and so it is with fretfulness — we only have to see the dramatic rise in mental health issues during this plague year to understand that the pandemic affects not only those who have contracted the virus but many of us who have not.

In Psalm 37 the word is used to denote anger, literally to burn, or to melt. This is often a response to fear-inducing circumstances. When startled or frightened our first reaction is often an angry one.

But Psalm 37 encourages us to rest in The Lord and wait patiently for Him. Not always an easy thing to do — impossible maybe by our own efforts, but with patience (because you have kept My command to persevere - Revelation 3:10 NKJV) and understanding ... and The Holy Spirit’s help, resting in Him becomes easier — retraining our fears into spiritual rest. He will do it.

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ [Isaiah 41:10 NKJV]

Yesterday morning as I prepared to walk our small excitable Jack Russell terrier, I felt that the top of my head needed protecting from the increasing cold as Winter approaches, so I put on my favourite head-warming hat and went out on the walk. All during the walk and up until now, the expression ‘wearing Horace’s hat’ has recurred with an insistence that I can only attribute to the Holy Spirit.

In a sense it is a second-hand (or second-head) hat, as it originally belonged to a dear man of God, who we were more than blessed to know for some years until The Lord took him home. His story is an amazing one — too long for a short meditation like this — but it is one that should be told in time. It is an inspiring testimony and tells of a man who found a deep abiding faith, overcame many obstacles (not the least of which was being unable to read), pastored a church in Cambridge and went on to be a mainstay in a Christian community in Ireland, where he was known locally and with respect and affection as “The Horace”.

He was, without doubt, a man of God, and someone who, by his example and advice helped deepen my own faith and those of any who knew him. He had a quality that is essential in any man of God; that of always pointing away from himself and towards Jesus Christ.

The scripture reading today seems so relevant to this dear saint. He continued in the things which he had learned and been assured of; and he was most emphatic about the one from whom he had learned. To me, he seemed ‘thoroughly equipped for every good work’

He is not alone among those who have been guides and mentors in this walk of faith; there have been ‘a fair few’ over the years, but I am always glad when I bring him to mind, and proud to be ‘wearing Horace’s hat’.

This is what I read this morning from Oswald Chambers’ “Devotions For A Deeper Life” :
Let me share a very puzzling situation. You have all had experiences, I’m sure, in which people listened to clear Bible teaching, but failed to enter the kingdom of God. Yet, before that same congregation, a speaker gets up and shares a rambling testimony and—to your astonishment—people are born again.
I have attended the City Mission in New York City several times, for example, and I have never once heard correct biblical teaching there. But recently, I heard a man who had been wonderfully saved get up and tell what he was and what he had been. Then four or five others did this too. The Spirit of God got hold of the people in the congregation. Before I knew it, people went to the altar.
These rough men knelt down and prayed with them, and the seekers “struck something,” as they say there. Something struck them!

I have been ‘much exercised’ as we sometimes say, in what Our Lord is doing in this hour — in this time of testing and trial. It occurred to me that it is always a time of testing; life is a continual struggle. It has it’s joys and sadnesses, triumphs and tragedies for sure, but that is not in the centre of us. What is our core and character? Some preachers have talked of having “a Jesus-shaped hole” in that centre, something which can still be there, even if we purport to be believers. There can be a block in letting Jesus fill us with His heavenly presence, and the block can be needing to ‘empty ourselves of ourselves’ first.

How is that accomplished? Paul suggests the way, and that is to reaffirm your love to Jesus. All flows from that one basic premise. But that love needs to be tested — tried in the fire of adversity and struggle, to eliminate the block. That love and passion for Jesus must be backed by obedience to Him in the spirit of forgiveness.

What this comes down to in the end — and where Oswald Chambers found a very puzzling situation — is a deep abiding relationship with Jesus. It is not about teaching, or learning how to follow a set of rules; it is being obedient in all things.