Vindicate Me

“Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have integrity, and I trust in the Lord without wavering. Examine me, O Lord, and test me. Evaluate my inner thoughts and motives. For I am ever aware of your faithfulness, and your loyalty continually motivates me.” Psalm 26:1-3 (NET)

Vindicate me. Show up, God. I’ve put all my hope, dreams, and effort into what You said. Settle it. I did what You told me. I hoped in You against all hope. I stood silent while others laughed at the vision You gave. I’ve held my tongue. I’ve held my breath. But I let go of my hopes- into Your hands.

Vindicator, vindicate me.

Surely I’m not the only one that’s ever held those words tightly within the confines of my mind. Not actually praying them out loud for fear that I might sound impatient with the Almighty. But truth is, I am. And He knows it.

That’s one of the things that’s deepened my relationship with God lately- knowing that He sees all the mess we try to hide even from ourselves, but still loves us anyway.

You don’t have to be charming in your prayer closet.

Tweet

Vindication has been on my heart lately. Because a lot of the times when following God, His instructions don’t exactly make sense. God’s ways don’t look like the world’s ways. His plans don’t match up. Therefore, ours shouldn’t either. If you’re never doing anything for God that makes some people scoff- you’re most likely missing out on a lot of God’s goodness for your life.

“Be God’s fool—that’s the path to true wisdom. What the world calls smart, God calls stupid.” 1 Corinthians 3:19 (MSG)

But when we start to walk out these heavenly plans that look so strange to the world we can sometimes start feeling more and more alone. Because most people are going to drop off. That’s okay. Walk it out anyway.

God’s plans don’t need other people’s permission.

Every time God has asked me to do something big, I’ve done it mostly alone. (With the exception of God, and a handful of my closest people.) I’ve been made fun of- more times than I can count. I’ve been lied about. I’ve been underestimated. But you know what? Those same people that laughed at the vision God gave me, got to experience His faithfulness in a great way when it all played out like God said.

Sometimes it’s good to have doubters. Because when God shows up, I believe it impacts them the most.

But in order for God to have the opportunity to vindicate us, we have to make sure we aren’t trying to justify ourselves. People are going to talk. Let them. If you’re truly walking in what God called you to do, it will come out in the end.

“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.” Romans 12:19 (NIV)

God is justice. He is always right. He is my vindication and my defense. He is my proof- my evidence. And He’s yours too. Let Him be.

When it doesn’t look like He’s working- He is. I promise. He is always working. He is fighting for you. Every word He has said will come to pass. Maybe not how you expected it to- in fact, probably not how you expected. But He is perpetually faithful. That means you can be still. You can focus on whatever He asked of you and not the world’s opinion of it.

“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14 (NIV)

Righteousness is mocked. God’s ways are looked down on. But that hasn’t ever once stopped God from working. All throughout the Bible God is making plans and people are making fun. Yet Jesus was dare I say, savage, in His response to His critics. He. didn’t. say. anything.

“But when the accusations rained down hot and heavy from the high priests and religious leaders, he said nothing. Pilate asked him, ‘Do you hear that long list of accusations? Aren’t you going to say something?’ Jesus kept silence—not a word from his mouth. The governor was impressed, really impressed.” Matthew 27:12-14 (MSG)

They crucified Him. Hell itself thought it had won that day. And the next day. And even the next day. But on that third day, Jesus came back- with the keys to death, Hell, and the grave. And with not so much as one word, Jesus was vindicated. He was proven to be right.

It might take a while. It might look like you’ve lost. It might look like justice has failed. But always remember, even Hell thought it’d won for three days. Stay humble. Stay quiet. You are not alone. God will fight for you and fulfill every plan and purpose for your life.

Vindicator, vindicate me.

Be Blessed!