"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls; Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  Hab. 3: 17-18.

Everyone likes to see seeds they sow yield a harvest, be productive and fruitful but not all speak in faith as the Prophet Habakkuk.  It made no difference to him if the fields and vines were fruitful or if there was lack and failure of crops and no herd in the stalls, he would praise the Lord and rejoice anyway.  This is the mark of true worship and praise which comes from the heart.  He had an "attitude of gratitude"  which came from within and was reflected in the words he spoke and his prayers. 

Habakkuk seemed more concerned than any of the prophets about the character of God being vindicated, than about Israel escaping punishment.  God had made it clear  to Habakkuk that unless Judah repented and conformed to his will, they could  only expect punishment and destruction as a Nation.  Habakkuk made  an appeal for injustice to end upon this earth during this time.  He saw the holiness and justice  of the Lord and defended God's character as he made a declaration to worship regardless of adverse circumstance.

Our worship should be as Habakkuk as it is not dependant upon the circumstances around us,  but is motivated by the Christ who lives within us and his Holy Spirit.  We may have tears in our eyes but can still have the joy of the Lord in our hearts, if we know the one who is Lord over all.  Things around us may look bleak and as if they are failing, but there is one who can never fail.  He will hold us up if the economy goes down.  He will be our light in the darkness of a sinful world and we are to let his light shine.  If we have Christ within our hearts, we have a motivation for worship and He alone is worthy of all praise. 

Habakkuk had been in intercessory prayer for Judah for some time and it seemed he would never be heard by the Lord.  He desired an answer, as the Psalmist David when he was in his deep distress. Habakkuk's prayer was from the heart and one that God heard and will hear today when we ask in faith as he did.

Habakkuk gave three reasons he could consecrate himself to the Lord.

1. The Lord alone was his strength and joy.
2. He would make him as sure-footed as hinds.
3. He knew he would make him to walk upon high places.

God will do the same for us when we trust in Him and consecrate ourselves to Him. This man prayed for national revival and asked God to revive his work in the midst of
the years, in the midst of the years to make known, and in wrath remember mercy.  God's word made him tremble and his lips quiver at God's voice and a vision of God's greatness as he marched through the land.  He reverenced the holiness of God.

Our prayer for revival and renewal should be the same as Habakkuk's.  We must once again join together to proclaim God's holiness and his requirements according to his Word in order to be blessed. We are to serve him because we
love Him and recognize his righteousness in all his ways. Opposition, troubles, or terror should not stop our desire to praise God.  As the Prophet of old, we too can "Praise God anyway" and he will dwell in the midst of our praises.  May our prayer be to declare as Habakkuk, "yet, will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." May we face each day living by faith as we praise the Lord in spirit and in truth.

Blessings In Christ, Jo Ann Kelly (c) 2002 J. P.'s Inspirations

 

 

If circumstances around us look bleak
Or if our body feels tired and weak,
We have a God who is strong
He is the one we can lean on.

Though all else may seem to fail
We have a God we can tell,
He already knows every woe,
And his grace He will bestow.

He will always see us through,
If others fail us or in times we feel blue,
He has already walked the lonely road to Calvary,
He can surely take care of you and me.

It matters not what may befall,
We have a God on whom we can call,
He lives within our hearts today,
And gives us peace as we seek Him and pray.

He is a God who is in control
And one on whom our burdens we can roll,
He will stand beside us in the storms of life,
And see us through all earthly pain and strife.

Jo Ann Kelly (c) 2002
J. P.'s Inspirations

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Midi: "O Come And Worship" Copyright © 2001

Elton Smith and Lena Kittrell