I Will Lie Down and Sleep in Peace

FROM: JANUARY 31 to FEBUARY 6, 2017

TOPIC: "I Will Lie Down and Sleep in Peace" Psalm 4:1-4, 8 A few days ago, I wanted to "detoxify" my mind, my thoughts. I wanted to get out of my mind everything that would not let me wake up in peace in the morning. It is that the thoughts in the night must be dominated and still so that we can have the morning's rest. Otherwise, the day begins with worries and soon comes the fainting of the strength. We should have a calm and restful mind in the night to begin the morning in faith and thus be able to work with the eagerness that the day in itself brings. Living "intoxicated" in the mind is like a "poison" that wants to steal the faith of the children of God. We need to lie down in peace and sleep in peace to start the day with strength and in faith. Psalm 4:1 "Answer me when I call you, O my righteous God." To ask God to respond is to show a little doubt. Notice that God has freed us from dangers and problems hundreds of times; so, for this reason we must be confident that the Almighty God will not leave us alone IN THE PROBLEM OR DANGER THAT CAN COME as hard as it may seem. What God started He will carry to the end! I can do things halfway, but God does not do anything halfway. Until our need ceases He will never stop to help us. We can see that Israel needed the manna every day until they were able to reach the Promised Land. After they arrived and passed the Jordan there was no more manna, they no longer needed the food of the People of the Promise. God helped them by giving them the manna until the end. Many things come to us to take away our faith, everything becomes a despair and it seems like God is not present. Those difficulties that we have had to live make us think that we are alone and that's when we say: "Answer me when I call..." Let us understand today that we have to "detoxify" ourselves from the thoughts that torment us and that is hindering faith. God is willing to listen to us! Psalm 4:2 "How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?" We can think, "Until when will our enemies try to mock our honor and are capable of making fun of the reputation of our lives?" Our enemies can tell us that we are evil, that we are gossipers that we destroy, etc. They fill their mouths with everything they want to say about us to harm our lives. But, in speaking they reveal their own wickedness, even with their shameful behavior they think about ruining the life of one who has only loved. It is fun for people to talk about us, to have us in their mouths. Why should they continue in their entertainment? In the Lord Jesus, we see how this happened. Jesus' life was pure; but the Jews in His time carried His honor in infamy. HONOR is respect and good opinion, it is someone's honor. INFAMY is wicked behavior, vile; it is evil that affects a person's credit. The Lord Jesus had to go to His physical rest after making His useless appeals to the men of Israel. They despised and infamed Him. Psalm 4: 2 "How long will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?" This message is addressed to the wicked world. Remember, God has chosen the godly for Himself. Psalm 4:3 "Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for Himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him." The one who writes this psalm is David who was the king of Israel by divine order, and now we ARE THE PEOPLE OF GOD. Let us be clear and willing to tell our enemies in the face that they are fighting against God when they are eager to bring us down. Let us remember Paul when he persecuted the disciples. The Lord said to him: "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for

you to kick against the goads. (Acts 26:14) To mistreat Jesus' disciples was really to fight against God; a proceeding that would only harm Saul. The goad to which the Lord referred to was the sharp point of metal at the end of a long rod that was used for the beasts. The kicks are shocking or violent blows that the beasts make against the stinger hurting itself and causing much pain. The Lord used this comparison regarding Paul's behavior when fighting against God while persecuting new believers. Glory to God that Paul repented and converted. You should know that you are pious and that God chose you, that he who fights with you kicks you, but at the same time buries the stinger; it is that it is meddling with God and God's destiny for your life. We are like David, we are of God. Therefore, we can say: "In peace I will lie down and sleep; for you alone, Jehovah, make me live in confidence." Psalm 4:8 Amen.