Note to Reader:
“I’m Walking” is a category of my blog where I jot down personal lessons that I’ve learned as I walk with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Life is never constant, but thankfully God is. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” The more I get to know God’s character, through the Bible and prayer, the more my faith grows… all the while I’m taking notes along the way. I often jot down excerpts from other authors, notes from church services, and most importantly scripture from God’s word so that I can draft them into a concise format to refer to later. Originally, I compiled these notes for my own use, but it occurred to me that perhaps others may find my notes helpful as well. Thus, I humbly present my notes to you, hoping that they may offer even a little insight. With love, Ashley.
GOD’S TIMING:
Well, I have been called by God to write. There is no mistaking this. God spoke to my heart, and God, being The Almighty, is a God of well, as many words as He wants to be. With that being said, God has called me in His words (and in this case, one word in particular) to “write”. OK, what next? Moses had a list of ten commandments inscribed on stone, my tablet can fit into my pocket. I’m just saying.
I will say, however, that since I have received my travel sized tablet, my desire to pursue this gift has grown. Amazing how God works, isn’t it? The more I sought a relationship with God, and the more I actively sought to know Him, the more everything else fell into place (including my desires).
“WRITE” was my directive. So, I wrote… and I’ve written… and I’m writing.
Then comes a point in one’s journey where you truly believe you are doing what you are supposed to be, but nothing seems to be coming into fruition yet (at least not the plan I expected). That was the case with me lately, so I prayed. I dedicated extra time to seeking God’s guidance on this in particular and I gave up some of my other interests to focus on spending more time with God in His word, in prayer, and in finishing a book I’ve been wanting to complete for a little while now. This book is called, “Discerning the Voice of God” by Priscilla Shirer. (Great book by the way!)
As a woman desiring to find a career that I can be passionate about, I had some questions about my current plan in life and needed some guidance from God. Of course, I had already come up with a couple of ideas of what direction I could pursue other than the route I am currently on… perhaps I could shift gears, I thought to myself. I could take my zippy VW down a different avenue and head in a different direction. The problem was, I knew that if I shifted those gears, my writing would be moved to the back seat and God only knows for how long (literally). I’ll be honest, I want to write first and foremost… but what is the game plan, I wondered. So, I went to God with my uncertainties. One thing I’ve learned is that I have my ideas and God has His. I vote for the latter every time.
While reading “Discerning the Voice of God”, I came to chapter 14. The title of this chapter is called, “Greater Expectations”. Priscilla Shirer tells us of the story of Habakkuk. Who? Habakkuk. Yea, I know right. This is one of those books of the Bible that’s all of three pages long. So was Jonah you might say, and you knew his story. Yes, but Jonah was swallowed by a whale and then spat out on the beach of his enemies. You don’t really forget that in grade school.
Well, to summarize, Habakkuk was a prophet. He had grown appalled, frustrated, and discouraged by the sinful nature of the people of Judah. He couldn’t understand why God wasn’t doing anything about it. He was struggling to comprehend God’s ways. So, Habakkuk prayed.
Habakkuk :2-3 (HCSB)
Habakkuk’s First Prayer
“How long, LORD, must I call for help and You do not listen or cry out to You about violence
and You do not save? Why do You force me to look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Oppression and violence are right in front
of me. Strife is going on, and conflict escalates.”
Okay, so Habakkuk prays to God frustrated and discouraged. He feels unheard. (I think it is fair to say that many of us may have felt this way at a time in our lives.)
Habakkuk 1:5
God’s First Answer:
“Look at the nations and observe– be utterly astounded! For something is taking place in your days that you will not believe
when you hear about it.
Okay, so God is ALWAYS WORKING. Priscilla Shirer writes: “A heart that continues to expect God’s movement will result in eyes that are open and recognize His activity in the circumstances of life. We will find that even situations in which God appears to be indifferent are actually filled with God’s handiwork, insight, and instruction for us.”
Habakkuk 1:12-17
Habakkuk’s Second Prayer
“Are You not from eternity, Yahweh my God? My Holy One, You will not die. LORD, You appointed them to execute judgment; my Rock, You destined them to punish us. Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate those who are treacherous? Why are you silent while one who is wicked swallows up one who is more righteous than himself? You have made mankind like the fish of the sea, like marine creatures that have no ruler. The Chaldeans [Babylonians] pull them all up with a hook, catch the in their dragnet, and gather them in their fishing net, for by these things their portion is rich and their food plentiful. Will they therefore empty their net and continually slaughter nations without mercy?”
Wow, right? Okay, so here Habakkuk poses several questions to God concerning the injustices he sees around him. Notice, however, that although worded as questions, the prophet’s comments can also be considered a declaration, confirming the prophet’s restored confidence in who God is. He is no longer looking down in discouragement, but toward God. He still doesn’t fully understand God’s plan, but he is eager to see what God’s word and work will be next.
Habakkuk 2
Habakkuk Waits for God’s Response
“I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the lookout tower. I will watch to see what He will say to me and what I should reply about my complaint.”
What an important part of the process. Like Habakkuk, I will choose to expectantly wait on my God in all circumstances. [Shirer] “We too must stand high in our hearts above the ground-level realities that we face every day. Watching only for God, trusting His lead, turning our attention completely on Him, not worried about what’s happening below us or the speed with which our heart is telling us to react or respond. Our priorities are firmly fixed on hearing from God.”
Habakkuk 2:2-3 (NASB)
God’s Second Answer
“Then the LORD answered me and said, “Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets, that the one who reads it may run [HCSB: so one may easily read it]. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay.”
Hmmm, it appears God is saying to Habakkuk (and me) to be patient. God’s promises are always fulfilled and He does it in His timing– which is the RIGHT timing. Personally, my prayers right now happen to concern a particular time in my life, but His truth and promises are eternal and not limited to just one person versus the next. His truths apply to all His children in whatever we may face, whenever we may face them. Life happens and the only thing constant is God. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever”.
Habakkuk concludes his book not with with the immediate change he sought, but rather with a renewed confidence in the God Almighty to do what he does best– be sovereign. Habakkuk said:
Habakkuk 3:18-19
“…yet I will triumph in Yahweh; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! Yahweh my LORD is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!”
On a personal note, my husband and I went to church service and you can only guess what the sermon was on. Yup, God’s timing. The first scripture our pastor had us read from was Habakkuk 2:3. All of a sudden, Habakkuk was a pretty popular guy in my world. Alright, Lord. I am listening and I am learning. I will move forward in what You have called me to do and wait for You, in Your greater plan, to guide me in my next step. Whatever Your plan is, I know that it is greater than I could have ever hoped or imagined. (Please also see Ephesians 3:14-21)
Sometimes God is developing us before leading us to the fulfillment of a promise. May we gain the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self control (Galatians 5:22-23) we need to best bring glory to God. To gain these fruits of the spirit, let us keep walking with the Lord. 🙂
With love,
Ashley