Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the group MercyMe singing their song … Even If … with a reflection of how we can - and must - respond when God says “NO!” … for a LONG TIME!!
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Highlight Verse[s]: Habakkuk 1:2a [NLT] … 2a How long, Lord, must I call for help, but You do now listen? …
… Habakkuk perceives that God isn’t listening.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Habakkuk 1:2-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The confused Prophet, Habakkuk, when God seems to be saying “NO!” over and over again, comes to God with a prayer of depression and desperation.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Habakkuk 3:17-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
... After quite some time and patience, the Prophet realizes that God was always there and that He can - and WILL - give the patient believer the ability to find joy in the midst of times of trial and sorrow.
Reference Passage [NLT] : … 1st Corinthians 10:13 [NLT] … 13 No temptation [or trial] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted [or tried] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, [or tried] He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
… Paul teaches that God is ALWAYS faithful to provide us with the way to deal with life, … IF … we’re patient enough to seek it and use it.
Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2nd Corinthians 12: 6-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul had his tough time of pain and sorrow when God said “NO” to his prayers; but he remembered the words of Jesus, reminding the Apostle that God’s grace would be sufficient for Paul to handle the pain and privation.
My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Pye, uses a life example to teach on letting God into our lives when He needs us for His witness or work. The ODB author wrote: When I married, I thought I would have children immediately. That did not happen, and the pain of infertility brought me to my knees. I often cried out to God, “How long?” I knew God could change my circumstance. Why wasn’t He?
Are you waiting on God? Are you asking, How long, Lord, before justice prevails in our world? Before there is a cure for cancer? Before I am no longer in debt?
Ever been in a place/time where you can identify/empathize with those latter questions or … maybe with the Prophet, Habakkuk, in today’s highlight passage, … where he (or you) prayed in a depressed and confused state of mind, not knowing why God seemed so distant and not listening to his/our prayers? Yeah, … you’ve been there, at some time, haven’t you … maybe even now?!
Well, take heart, Habakkuk in the OT and the Apostle Paul in the NT, found that God never abandons the believer [again; look up and meditate on Hebrews 13;5] … even when He just seems far off. But as the group MercyMe sings in the linked song, “Even If” our God seems to be absent/silent, … HE”S NOT! … And when we can patiently have the faith He alone can provide, He will be faithful and provide us with His strength and His way thru the challenges we experience, … even thru the pain (see reference scriptures above). …
EXTRA HELP: If any reader wants more help from Our Daily Bread on this, … go to a video and short teaching by today’s ODB author AT THIS LINK ,,,
My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Help me, Lord, … to ALWAYS realize the truth of Hebrews 13:5 and Your truth in the reference scriptures today. … Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.
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