Rise Up

When you grow up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and summer yields to fall, you root for the Steelers. It’s not even an option. It’s culture. You bleed black and gold. The home team binds every borough, city and suburb into a greater community that rises in unison to wave Terrible Towels and high five complete strangers. In the stadium, in the grocery stores, in the workplace… anywhere.

To this day, even though I’m now a Carolina girl, when I see any random person in public wearing Steelers gear, I see family… and I stroll over to chat with them as if we graduated from high school together.

Yinz guys. Not even kidding. Rilly. We Steelers fans love our team fiercely.

And we have ridiculously strong feelings about our rivals. (Ahem. Patriots, Ravens & Bengals) These teams aren’t just opponents, they’re enemies. Enemies who come against our people with a strategic game plan to poke holes in our defense, overpower us on offensive and neutralize our effectiveness on the field. Enemies that I want my Steelers to take down. Bad, bad enemies. (Please don’t send me nasty emails if you root for one of my enemy teams. Just repent.) 

Psalm 58 is an imprecatory psalm… which means it’s a cry for justice or victory over one’s enemies or the perceived enemies of God. In Psalm 58, the psalmist cries out to God about His enemies and begs Him to wipe them out. He asks God to rise up and crush the forces of darkness that conspire against the Lord and His people.

“The wicked go astray from the womb;
liars wander about from birth.
4 They have venom like the venom of a snake,
like the deaf cobra that stops up its ears,
5 that does not listen to the sound of the charmers
who skillfully weave spells.

6 God, knock the teeth out of their mouths;
Lord, tear out the young lions’ fangs.
7 May they vanish like water that flows by;
may they aim their blunted arrows.
8 Like a slug that moves along in slime,
like a woman’s miscarried child,
may they not see the sun.”

(Psalm 58:3-8, CSB) 

I read this and am reminded of the wars that rage all around us in both the seen and the unseen realms. I’m reminded we have authority in Christ to boldly pray against all that is contrary to God’s heart and will, which is revealed in His Word. Given the current events and tragic losses of late, this list is lengthy and loaded with led.

We can confess personal rebellion and pray against tendencies in our own hearts that oppose His best for us. Things like stubbornness, pride, laziness, anger, sexual sin, jealousy, resentment, gluttony, bitterness, division, toxic thoughts, bigotry and idolatry.

“He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion” (Proverbs 28:13, NASB1995).

We can ask the Spirit of God to replace any darkness with His holy light that forgives completely and invites us to come as we are by grace.

“The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore, let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12, NASB1995).

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:6, NASB).

We can pray against enemies like depression, fractured relationships, laws, ignorance, ungodly movements, despair, fear, and doubt. And we can align our choices and responses with the instructions in God’s Word.

“Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things” (Philippians 4:8, NIV).

And as we call out for the Lord to crush His enemies and invade darkness with light, we can rest in the assurance that we’re on the winning team because our MVP chose to wear a headpiece of thorns to ensure victory.  

So, let’s join together as a community of believers today on bended knee. Wave a towel and strike up the band in celebration that God cherishes our team fiercely and leads us in the battle against our enemy. #herewego 

Dear Lord, You are all powerful, all knowing and all seeing. Please go before me take action against darkness today… in this world and in my heart.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

~ Gwen Smith is an author, speaker, co-founder of Girlfriends in God and host of the Graceologie podcast.