What Do You Believe - Hope Deferred 2

The prophet Habakkuk lived in a time much like our own.  The ravages of evil were abundant and it seemed as if God's people were forgotten.  The vision was one of devastation for the enemy, but deliverance for Israel.  Habakkuk wanted to know how long would we be forgotten.  He laid his concerns before the Lord and then he said I will stand on my watch and look to see how the Lord will answer.  Does this sound familiar?

If we have any type of prayer life at all, unfortunately much of it is spent telling God about our life and asking in some form or another why doesn't he do anything about it.  How long do we have to endure these trials?  Sometimes we get spiritual about our dissatisfaction and state that we are not being a good example to the world while we are suffering and aren't we supposed to be worry free anyway because we are God's children and so forth.  We can quote prosperity scriptures!  It's the other ones that tend to go fuzzy.  But, Habakkuk says that he will continue to be on watch and he will continue to look for God's response (Hope).  He does not say he will listen for a response regarding his prayer.  Instead, God is now, in the present and His word is alive and active.  His word is always moving and it is shown in action.  Are we standing in the midst of our trial?  Are we still in position?  Have we grown weary in well doing?  But, God does not disappoint Habakkuk, because he advises although the vision is late (deferred) continue to wait for it will surely come.  Furthermore, the just, righteous, saints will continue to live based upon their faithfulness to God.  Wait, we are to live not just based upon God's promise of the vision, but go deeper and live by our own faithfulness to the things of God.  The wicked live by faith in themselves and their own ability, but we will live by obedience to God's word and the promise of his Kingdom.  So, I will continue to pray though there be 5 in attendance or 1.  I will live a fasted lifestyle to keep my flesh under subjection to my spirit man.  I will be careful concerning speaking empty, vain and profane words.  I will speak life to my situation.  I will read and study the word of God.  I will be vulnerable and kind and subject to hurts and mistakes by others.  I will speak the truth in love in season and out of season.  I will be careful to listen to life giving words, words of love and encouragement and the praises of God.  I will be slow to anger and speak but quick to forgive and love again.  I will be who God has called me to be and I will walk worthy of that which he has called me to do and be.

I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost.  It is in this secret place that I will wait patiently and with expectation for my love.  For my love will come, if he is late in coming continue to wait.  For he began the work in me and he is the one that will be faithful to complete the work he has begun.  He has promised to make something beautiful out of me.  Then, I will write the answer upon my heart and carry the testimony to others.  I will declare the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  I will declare liberty to the captives and declare freedom to rejoice in the God of all heaven and earth.  The Lord has anointed me, set me apart for his glory and honor and I will continue to run this race. 

Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding

He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.

Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

 

Isaiah 40:28-31 NLT

What Do You Believe - Hope Deferred

The word of God says in the book of Proverbs that hope deferred makes the heart sick.  We hope for things we cannot see.  We look for a brighter day and when we think that the brighter day will not come it makes us sick to our inner most being.  But what is our hope?  Look deeper into deferred.  When our faith cannot look toward deliverance we are sick to the core.  For is not faith that which makes no sense to believe; yet, all that is within us says believe. 

It is so easy to look at non-believers and shake our heads.  Poor things, they just don't know the truth.  They struggle because they are not Christians and they commit sins against God and His word.  But, what about the believer who finds himself in the struggle for his life.  You have dropped so far, that for the first time you find yourself doubting.  You tell no one because you don't want to look unspiritual or immature.  What has happened when that person who has been always taught the truth suddenly begins to back away or runaway if you will from God?  How many christian marriages are struggling or the husband and wife have called it a day because it is just too hard?  Where is your hope?  Is it deferred?  Oh soul, why are you cast down?  Hope in the Lord! 

I have come to realize that it is dangerous to say and pray change me Lord.  Make me a vessel fit for your use.  I want to be a true worshipper who will worship you in spirit and the truth of who you are.  I want to know you Lord and the fellowship of your suffering.  For if you mean these things, God will show you your heart and try the motives of your heart.  It is His will that we come closer.  He wants to whisper secrets to us and tell us all about His heart.  But, do we really understand the cost of being used in the last day?  God is testing our foundation.  He cannot build a house upon shaky ground.  For we are seeing more and more and more the winds of change.  Change and sin is all around us and it is a war on the Kingdom of God.  Leaders are falling to the left and the right.  Things and institutions we have trusted in are now falling apart.  Many in the faith are falling away or compromising the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We can pray to an unknown or unnamed god, but dare we pray in the name of Jesus to Yahweh?  Our government is backing away from foundational truths.  The ten commandments, prayer, integrity, honesty, loyalty, and righteousness almost a thing of the past.  He tells us in Habakkuk that the just shall live by faith.  Faith is that which we hope in although it makes no sense.  In our inner man, we know that God is faithful and He is a sustainer and He is able!  He is able to be whatever we need today! He is able to keep and change our mind.  Although the vision, the promise is late or deferred, wait on it.  I will wait on you oh God.  There is none other that can keep me or take care of me in time of peril or heartache.  I will look unto the hills where comes my help.  My help comes from the Lord.  He is the maker of heaven and earth, the Lord strong and mighty!

You may find yourself in the struggle of your life.  Around you is destruction, loss, poverty and famine.  But out of His holy mountain comes a deliverer.  He sees you in all the mess.  He has not forgotten His promise to you and although it looks as if the promise will never be fulfilled, do not give up hope.  He has not given up on you.  You are being processed and it is a new day regardless of where you find yourself at this moment.  He makes all things new.  It is time to move forward, to press forward into destiny.  No longer hope deferred, now it is hope realized!

Determined Focus

What Do You Believe - In the Darkness

There are days that we feel the abundance of the latter rain and it overwhelms us.  Then there are days that all we see and feel is the abundance of darkness.  We have heard the term "latter rain" often.  It refers to a second soaking rain that helps to produce the harvest.  We often marvel at prophetic words that announce or confirm our calling in God.  Our heart leaps because truthfully those types of words seem to affirm us and give us value.  But, it is in the trying of the word that darkness consumes us.  What do you do when those you love the most seem to reject you?  Paul basically was alone.  He never married.  He had those in his life that he referred to as sons and so forth.  But, there were times when those same people he walked with seemingly didn't know him and they eventually parted ways.  Some of the time Paul was remiss in his assessment of character as in the case of John Mark.  But, there were times when there was no reconciliation.  Can two walk together unless they be agreed.  Oh, the tearing!

John the Baptist lived in the wilderness and ate honey and wild locusts.  He had disciples, but was alone.  Yet, the word of God says that God places the solitary, the lonely in families.  Such an oxymoron!  For it is in the darkest moment of our lives that we are alone and misunderstood.  The immature believer wants to cover their head or even worse walk away from the faith.  It's too hard and it hurts too bad; therefore, I will self-medicate.  I will "enjoy" feeding my flesh and attempting to numb my pain.

But, for those who are or strive to be a mature son, there is no going back.  You press toward the mark although at times your steps feel like cement about your feet and legs.  The time has come that the Father seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth.  What is the truth?  The truth is His grace is enough.  For in our weakness, God is at His strongest in our lives.  It hurts and the knife cuts deep, oh so deep.  Chaos is all around and you cry out, Lord do you not care for me!  You said you loved me, so why does it hurt so bad?  Be of good cheer for He is faithful!  He has begun this work in you and I and He will be faithful to complete it.  Just as operations are needful and necessary to begin the healing, so is the cutting by the spirit necessary.  The circumcision of the heart is always the most painful because it cuts the wounds and the ucky things we have held the closest to our heart.  It is truly cutting the flesh, the things that do not produce the life of God in us.  In those times of darkness God is near and He is creating in you and I a longing that can only be satisfied by the soaking of the latter rain.  It is painful worship.

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

I will move ahead bold and confident,
Taking every step in obedience

While I'm Waiting
I will serve You
While I'm Waiting
I will Worship
While I'm Waiting
I will not faint
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

John Waller - While I'm Waiting