Psalm 4  David examines the truth about God.  When we know Him we find that we can trust Him. 

God is the God of our righteousness.   He alone is righteous and our only hope of being righteous... of knowing and doing what is right - comes from Him.  He maintains right (thoughts and actions) for us. He is just and fair and right and He leads us to become those things too.  That is His will for us.  So when we pray - "Thy will be done" - this is a part of what we are asking.  And we can trust Him to do what He wants to do!

v3 " But know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself".   The Lord takes those who have bowed to Him, those who have accepted His righteousness in place of their filthy rags, and has wonderfully distinguished them as His own.  Think on this!  " Tremble and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed and be still." ( v4)  Choosing to trust Him to make us what He wants us to be - righteous ; holy, just,  pure, good, kind, loving, children - makes us His.

v5 " Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and trust in the Lord."   Sometimes it is hard to do what is right, but we can lay down our own wills and kill our own pride and stubbornness - and do what we know God wants us to do.  It is not easy sometimes... it is a sacrifice.  A bloody, messy, uncomfortable and yet marvelous thing.   To lay down our hurts and our self-efforts,  our self-righteousness and our judgmental attitudes is hard!   But we must do it.  Lay it on the altar before God and kill it.  Choose to trust Him!  The results will be worth it!

v7-8  " Thou hast put gladness in my heart. More than when their grain and new wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for Thou alone, O Lord, dost make me to dwell in safety."

The only way to be truly happy - to be glad down deep inside - is to find this way that God has provided.  To be able to rejoice, to be able to sleep peacefully, to feel secure and confident in God's protection - we must learn to trust Him like David did.

Father in heaven,  O Wonderful Counselor and Mighty King,  lead us in Your ways.  Lead us in the paths of righteousness, for Your Name's sake.  Lead us in justice and truth and love.  We call upon You to help us in this and we know that You hear our prayers.  You are the God of our righteousness.
You have made us Your own .  Your children, your servants, yours alone.   We lay down our own desires and "rights"; we offer them on the altar before You.  We put our trust in You.  We wait on You to provide all we need.  We wait on You to deliver us from evil.  We wait on You trusting in You all-sufficient grace.  Thank You for hearing our prayers.  Thank You for the grace and peace and joy that You give us in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen