A GUARANTEED AFFIRMATION
PSALMS - DAY 6
Oscar winning actress Hillary Swank would never have stepped on to the set of any movie had it not been for the affirmation of her mother, who relocated across the country to Hollywood and lived in her car to guarantee her fifteen-year-old daughter’s dreams to act professionally would not die. This mom believed her child had a future in the industry, and the courageous woman moved forward in light of that vision. Anyone else would have considered the outcome unlikely, but Judy was a parent energized by the excitement of celebrating her child’s expected triumphs.
The Psalmist declares that God’s children should “make vows to the Lord” and “fulfill” them. A “vow” was a sacred promise made by a worshipper to pay tribute to God for an answered prayer. Throughout Biblical history, we saw these pledges:
Jacob made a vow at Bethel asking God to “watch over” his journey and then providentially met his bride. (Genesis 28 and 29)
In haste, the warrior Jephthah asked God to give the enemy into his hands. His costly vow professed he would sacrifice as an offering the first treasure from his home when he triumphantly returned from battle. (Judges 11)
Hannah dedicated her firstborn son Samuel to the Lord after God “remembered” her vow in the course of due time and opened up her womb. (I Samuel 1)
As we cry out to the Lord to intervene over the injustice we see in our world, we can affirm that we acknowledge He reigns over all that concerns us. In His wisdom, He will ultimately work out the details at the right time to bring about our full redemption; therefore, we can rest in His care and commit to revere Him with surrendered hearts. One day soon, every enemy who has dared to defy His authority will be cut off and bow in submission as He completes His triumph. We need not fear the future if we fear our holy God. With expectation and excitement, we can look forward to His glorious victory and express our gratitude.