This prayer, which is also a song, will be familiar to those of you who heard Pastor Derry preach on Habbakuk 3. It is so powerful let's ponder it a bit more. In Habbakuk's "Facetime with God", he reveals the character of God, as well as something about his own character. He ends with a commitment to praise God despite the difficult days he knows are coming and the fear it invokes in his heart.
In this chapter, Habbakuk worships God for His splendor, power, glory, strength, mercy, holiness, sovereignty, and eternal ways. Stop for a few minutes and think about how you have seen each of those attributes recently. Did you? I mean really STOP to praise Him, thank Him, worship Him. Can you see Him? If not, ask God to open your eyes. David invites us in Psa 66:5 NASB - Come and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men.And then, Habbakuk reveals some of his own character through this prayer: trust, submission, and joy. What do my prayers tell about my character? Am I walking by faith? by feelings? by circumstances (present or future)? Do I readily submit to His will or do I follow kicking and screaming? Does my life give evidence of an inward joy - no matter what is going on around me?
Below are quoted some of the verses in this chapter. Go to your Bible for the rest of the chapter.
Hab. 3:17-19 Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord GOD is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my high places.
Here is my paraphrase of these verses. You might want to think of your own version to make them personal.
If the economic forecast does not look improve and there is no bonus at work, if my retirement fund shrivels to nothing and my husband gets laid off from his joy, if my friends move far away and my children leave me out of their lives, I will still be joyful because of what I have in my Almighty Lord and Savior. He will be my strength whatever may come.
What a verse! I've heard it said that we say that Jesus is all we need, but we don't know that Jesus is all we need until Jesus is all we have. He is sweet...and He is more than enough.
ReplyDeletePost-election paraphrase:
ReplyDeleteThough the election did not turn out the way I wanted or prayed for, though attempts to stop gay rights amendments failed in many places and pro-life candidates were not elected and there is no new agenda for American in the near future, though my taxes and health care costs may go down and conflict in the Middle East go up, yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my Savior. The SOVEREIGN Lord will be my strength and enable me to walk victoriously on the difficult path that right now seems inevitable.