TODAY’S SIGNATURE VERSE ••• I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. (Psalm 40:1-3 ESV)
PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• Apparently, there was this really big sports event that happened yesterday. They call it the “Super Bowl…” but I’m not sure what is so super about a bowl…
Okay, I may be pretty clueless when it comes to sports but I’m not THAT clueless. I even went to a Super Bowl party once about 20 years ago. It still ranks among one of the longest and most boring nights of my life.
This morning, on Facebook, there are quite a few comments about the halftime show. Some of my friends expressed outrage at the attire and performance of Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. My response to their response: well… what did you expect? As one commenter so perfectly stated, “I knew to expect that from the moment their names were announced as the performers.”
And that pretty much sums it up. I did YouTube enough of the show so I could write from a firsthand perspective, and yep. Pretty much what I would have expected. I couldn’t watch the whole thing.
I could easily go on a diatribe about the hypocrisy of women… Women who demand to be treated equally and then purposefully wear (or don’t wear, depending on your perspective) clothes that serve to objectify them. These women who decry being objectified and then invite people to do it! I don’t get it!
But past the hypocrisy, my heart hurts for these people. I don’t know the heart condition of Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, or any of the other supporting performers who joined them on stage. But from my perspective, their talent is lost under a shroud of flash and fireworks that I don’t need a psychology degree to define—insecurity.
And isn’t that something we all struggle with? At least before we know Jesus… the amazing thing about being a Christian is that while insecurity may tempt us, our security will never be taken. King David wrote, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:1-3).
Don’t you love that?! Because we’ve all been in that pit of destruction! We’ve all been in the miry bog! It’s where all of us start, but praise to God, that doesn’t mean that’s where we have to finish! When we cry out to God, He hears us! He pulls us out and gives us security!
When the world leaves us hopeless, He gives us hope.
When circumstances threaten to overtake us, He gives us peace.
When our security is rattled, He will not let us be shaken.
When relationships leave us lonely, He is with us and promised to never leave us.
The world offers cheap imitations, and unfortunately, many wear the mud and filth of the pit and the mire. They convince themselves that it’s beautiful and call it good. But the extraordinary security that waits for all who call on Jesus is not something that can be bought nor can it ever be duplicated.
We can achieve worldly accolades and a select few may even be invited to be celebrated on a stage for the whole world to admire. But those moments are temporary. They will never give us hope, peace, joy, stability, or security. Because the world is fickle. The stage lights go out and the confetti is swept away.
Bowing down in humility at the feet of Jesus is a far more secure place to be than on top of a stage that the world applauds.
Today, as you pray, thank God for rescuing you. Thank Him for the security you’ve found in Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you find hope and peace in humility before Christ. Ask Him to help you show others so that they too can cry out to be rescued.
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