Thursday, 2 March 2017

LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. – Habakkuk 3:2



Today’s Scripture Reading (March 3, 2017): Habakkuk 3

One of the common things that we feel is the statement “What have you done for me lately?” I say feel because I don’t actually think that we hear the words – we just feel the pressure of the idea. Yesterday's accomplishments were good enough for yesterday, but today demand’s something more from us, something that is greater.
Just the pressure of needing to accomplish more somehow takes its toll on our psyche. The pressure often builds to a pitch where we can no longer compete. We just can’t give any more. And this is probably the place that our reality begins. This place that exists when we have given all that we can, this line in the sand when we have tried everything that we can think of and have nothing more to offer – this is the place where God steps in.
Our truth is that if we could do it – then we would. Habakkuk says to God – we have heard of you, but we haven’t experienced you. The message is that we have accomplished what we could – but we can’t go any further. We need you. Habakkuk recognizes that while he needs God to move, what Habakkuk could do hasn’t been perfect. Mistakes had been made, and sins had been committed. And Habakkuk asks God to move in mercy.
It is in error to ever believe that our lives are either all us or all God. It is both. One of the most famous Bible verses not found in the Bible is that God helps those that help themselves. There is in the Bible the idea that when we come to the end of ourselves, God will stand in the gap.
We need to give this life everything that we have – give to him our very best in every situation that we face – and then ask God, in his mercy, to stand in the gap.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 11

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