Sunday, March 5th
Habakkuk 3: Prayers in Waiting
By Pastor Mara Vetters
The book of Habakkuk is a very short one. With only three chapters, tucked away between Nahum and Zephaniah, it would be easy to flip right by without even seeing it, but in doing so we would miss a remarkable book of prayer.
God did not send Habakkuk to speak to God’s people as much as Habakkuk cried out to God with his questions and anguish. The book of Habakkuk alternates between Habakkuk’s cries and God’s answers as the prophet why God is not responding to the wickedness and cruelty that Habakkuk sees all around him.
How long, Lord, must I call for help,
but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
but you do not save?
Habakkuk 1:2
In His replies, God warns Habakkuk of the coming Babylonian empire, which God will soon use to punish His rebellious nation, but God also promises that every act of violence will be seen and counted and that one day justice will be done. One day God will pour out His wrath and wipe away the wicked. One day God will come to rescue His faithful people. One day the whole world will see the power and the glory and the splendor of the almighty God!
That day is not today. Not for Habakkuk. Perhaps not for you.
Habakkuk’s question after all is often a familiar one. Whenever we look around the world and see evil, injustice, and brokenness in all its painful forms, we too must face the question of “how long, Lord?” How long until my loved one is healed? How long until I find a job that will help me feed my family? How long until that person who is using their power to hurt others has it taken away from them? How long, oh Lord, until you set things right?
Habakkuk’s final prayer, the one we read today in chapter 3, is his response to God’s “one day.” Even if the flowers don’t bloom, and the crops don’t grow. Even if there are no animals in the barn and no food in the pantry. In our own context, even if the doctor’s report is bad and the rent money doesn’t come;
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Habakkuk 3:18
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Monday, March 6th
Sing For Joy
By Iona Sewell
Habakkuk 3
Many times we, like the prophet Habakkuk, focus only on the evil going on in our world around us—the violence, strife, trouble, iniquity, injustice, wickedness, conflict, destruction, ineffective laws, abuse of power. Habakkuk complains to God as to why He hasn’t intervened and brought justice. In this conversation with God, Hab. 1-2, God reveals that judgment will come from the Chaldeans but also states that the just will live by faith, even while going through this persecution.
Frustrated that God wasn’t acting quickly enough, Habakkuk finally relents and decides to wait for God’s intervention as he says…”But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.” vs. 2:20 Habakkuk’s acceptance of God’s admonition to wait, vs. 2:3, stimulated him to pray for revival, vs. 3:2.
Many believe this prayer was sung and accompanied by stringed instruments, vs. 3:19. Throughout this song, Habakkuk reviews all of God’s faithfulness in the past and finally states his willingness to be joyful and serve God during this time of waiting for God to respond. vs. 3:18-19
Habakkuk’s decision to rejoice while being unsure of his future challenges me to sing when…
I feel friendless…”What a friend we have in Jesus…”
I feel afraid…”Be not dismayed whate’er betide; God will take care of you; Beneath His wings of love abide, God will take care of you. God will take care of you, Through every day o’er all the way; He will take care of you; God will take
care of you.
I doubt my salvation…”Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me…”
I feel alone…”I’m so glad I’m a part of the Family of God…”
I need renewal…”Revive us again, fill each heart with Thy love; May each soul be rekindled with fire from above…”
I am sad or anxious…”When peace like a river attendeth my way; When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul!”
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Tuesday, March 7th
Joy in the Waiting
By Andy Osman
Wow! Habakkuk as a prophet had to record and deliver God’s message just as accurately as God gave it to Habakkuk. This prophecy had to be terrifying to hear. However, after processing the magnitude of the prophecy and realizing that God’s judgment is a reality, Habakkuk’s prayer will rejoice in the Lord – “I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
After I read and studied the Old and New Testament it occurred to me people today are really no different than people of the past. Knowing of God’s judgment in the past and what is to come when the End of Days takes place, I know it will happen exactly as it was described, and will be terrifying to endure.
Being 74, witnessing what is taking place in the world community, I fear I know exactly what Habakkuk is feeling. My only peace and comfort comes from God. I too will rejoice in the Lord God. I too will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. As one hymn says:
“Because he lives, I can face tomorrow.”
When I pray for a prodigal daughter, I pray in faith that the Holy Spirit will be successful and her connection to Chrisitanity will take place. The only thing that could prevent this is her own will. I will continue to rejoice in the Lord, and I will be joyful in God my Savior.
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Wednesday, March 8th
As we come to another Wednesday we take intentional time to stop and pray. As you take time to pray today I would encourage you to create some space not to say any words but to simply listen for God. My former pastor, Mark VanValin, would often say something like, “You have to get quiet enough, long enough, to hear the voice of God.” Let us take intentional time to hear God’s voice today.
Lord, help us have the patience and willingness to get quiet and listen to you. Help us push out the noise and business that can distract us. Speak to us and remind us of who you are. Amen
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Thursday, March 9th
Don’t Forget
By Curt Binnion
Habakkuk 3
1) One big thing in Habakkuk 3 is how Habakkuk remembers in the midst of everything that God remembered his people and brought them through all the terrible “season’s” thrust on them.
2) Verse 19 “The Sovereign Lord is my strength, he makes my feet like the feet of a deer.
Don’t forget.
Don’t forget….
Habakkuk is saying I remember all these things, and acknowledges the greatness of the Lord, but also he is saying for those who come after him have faith.
We all pass through this situation. I am not sure if we are in the desert or just distant.
But knowing the Creator of all is on my side, this allows you to lift your head then be STILL and Listen as the Lord whispers to us.
I think Habakkuk is saying have faith no matter what is upon you.
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Friday, March 10th
“Prayers in Waiting”
By Pastor Barb Tuttle
Habakkuk 3: 17-19
17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! 19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.
Waiting is a choice – and not always something we do well. Yet it is difficult to be happy in waiting until we make God the source of our fulfillment. To trust Him with everything in every moment of our lives. Then even in waiting – we can find joy.
God’s timing is perfect, mine is not. When we try to rush things, we don’t always consider all that is involved, we are simply looking for immediate results. Sometimes those results are not in our best interest. God is all knowing, all powerful, and ever present. He knows the situation and is working on it on your behalf.
It’s not always easy to fully rely on God, yet even though we may be struggling with a variety of things going on in our life, and even though it may be hard, we can rejoice in knowing God is our Salvation. He will carry us through all things.
Dear Lord, Even though I may go through a difficult time, I can rejoice, because I know you will carry me through it. Amen
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Saturday, March 11th
Prayer of Repentance
Every Saturday we will have a prayer that we can pray ourselves to focus on repenting of our sins, and receiving forgiveness for them. It will be the same prayer each week. It is a prayer by John Wesely, the father of the Methodist movement, that is called Forgive Our Sins. We would encourage you to take a few moments and pray this prayer and confess your sins to God. He will hear you, and will forgive you.
Forgive them all, O Lord:
our sins of omission and our sins of commission;
the sins of our youth and the sins of our riper years;
the sins of our souls and the sins of our bodies;
our secret and our more open sins;
our sins of ignorance and surprise,
…..and our more deliberate and presumptuous sins;
the sins we have done to please others;
the sins we know and remember,
…..and the sins we have forgotten;
the sins we have striven to hide from others
….and the sins by which we have made others offend;
forgive them, O Lord, forgive them all for his sake, who died for our sins and rose for our justification,.and now stands at thy right hand to make intercession for us, Jesus Christ our Lord.
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