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. (For the choir director: This prayer is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)
Habakkuk 3:17–19 (NLT)
• Prophet Habakkuk said he would rejoice in the LORD, in spite of the problems around.
- The truth is, the promises of God might be delayed, take longer than expected. God will never come late, His Word would surely come to fulfillment—at the right time.
- A believer should not allow what they see to weigh them down in the time of tribulations.
- Patience is needed for God's vision to be realized, or fulfilled. If you are not patience, It may be difficult for you to walk with God.
- Do not consider the physical things, they are temporary. The things you see around, challenging you, are temporary; they would pass away, and are not to stay: "SO WE DON'T LOOK AT THE TROUBLES WE CAN SEE NOW; RATHER, WE FIX OUR GAZE ON THINGS THAT CANNOT BE SEEN. FOR THE THINGS WE SEE NOW WILL SOON BE GONE, BUT THE THINGS WE CANNOT SEE WILL LAST FOREVER" (2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT).
- God wants me to tell you that joy is coming in the morning. The psalmist says, weeping may endure for a night but Joy comes in the morning: "FOR HIS ANGER IS BUT FOR A MOMENT, HIS FAVOUR IS FOR LIFE; WEEPING MAY ENDURE FOR A NIGHT, BUT JOY COMES IN THE MORNING" (Psalm 30:5 NKJV).
- As you are reading this piece, God will cause you to laugh. Your miracle is around the corner. You will sing a new song in the mighty name of Jesus Christ:
" . . . TOMORROW, BY THE TIME THE SUN IS HOT, YOU SHALL HAVE HELP . . . " (1 Samuel 11:10 NKJV). - You have a colourful future, thus, brace up, and wipe away your tears.
• Having said that, I want you to note those things which God might be calling your attention to correct in your life.
- Some Believers experienced the same problem again and again, because they failed to learn from it, the last time it happened: "WHAT DO YOU CONSPIRE AGAINST THE LORD? HE WILL MAKE AN UTTER END OF IT. AFFLICTION WILL NOT RISE UP A SECOND TIME" (Nahum 1:9 NKJV).
- The Israelites repeatedly had the same problem of basic needs in the wilderness—the problems of water, food, and meat. The issue of water came up about three times (Exodus 15:22-25; 17:1-7; Numbers 20:3-13).
- On each occasion they had some of these problems, they were impatient; they murmured against God and Moses. They were unable to trust God to meet their needs.
- God was teaching them, through those challenges they were encountering, how to trust in Him. He was teaching them how not to live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of Him—God: "SO HE HUMBLED YOU, FALLOWED YOU TO HUNGER, AND FED YOU WITH MANNA WHICH YOU DID NOT KNOW NOR DID YOUR FATHERS KNOW, THAT HE MIGHT MAKE YOU KNOW THAT MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE; BUT MAN LIVES BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF THE LORD" (Deuteronomy 8:3 NKJV).
- He provided the food they were asking for, but with regulations to follow; because He wanted to know and test their obedience—how obedient they were: "THEN THE LORD SAID TO MOSES, “LOOK, I'M GOING TO RAIN DOWN FOOD FROM HEAVEN FOR YOU. EACH DAY THE PEOPLE CAN GO OUT AND PICK UP AS MUCH FOOD AS THEY NEED FOR THAT DAY. I WILL TEST THEM IN THIS TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL FOLLOW MY INSTRUCTIONS" (Exodus 16:4 NLT).
• Due to the impatient of the Israelites, there was an occasion which they wanted to stone Moses because of water:
2 THEREFORE THE PEOPLE CONTENDED WITH MOSES, AND SAID, “GIVE US WATER, THAT WE MAY DRINK.” SO MOSES SAID TO THEM, “WHY DO YOU CONTEND WITH ME? WHY DO YOU TEMPT THE LORD?” 3 AND THE PEOPLE THIRSTED THERE FOR WATER, AND THE PEOPLE COMPLAINED AGAINST MOSES, AND SAID, “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4 SO MOSES CRIED OUT TO THE LORD, SAYING, “WHAT SHALL I DO WITH THIS PEOPLE? THEY ARE ALMOST READY TO STONE ME [Put me to death by stoning]" (Exodus 17:2-4 NKJV).
- They kept on with the negative attitude of impatience, coupled with being recalcitrant and stiff-necked, until God finally decided to end that generation in the wilderness (Numbers 14:22,23,28,29).
- At the time God pronounced His verdict on them that they would not enter the promised land, It was eleven days journey away from the land. God changed the plans and turned the journey into forty years of wandering in the wilderness (Numbers 14:32-35).
- They failed to learn from their past mistakes, they were used to murmurings and complaints, whenever they needed something from God.
- Murmuring is an offshoot of, or it is caused or birthed by, impatience and Unbelief. God is just and not a wicked God. He will not abandon you at the time of distress or predicament, neither would He allow you to go through the challenges you have not been trained or equipped or prepared and engraced to handle (1 Corinthians 10:13).
TO BE CONTINUED
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
- Should there be any ailment in your body, I declare your healing now in Jesus' name.
- Hold of sicknesses is broken now in Jesus' name. And the Affliction will never rise again in Jesus' name.
Peace!
STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. As you took the steps A and B your name is written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).
- If you took the steps As highlighted above, congratulations, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!