SUNDAY, 1 JANUARY 2017
By the grace of God, we already left the year of 2016 with thankfulness since God had already been so amazing and wonderful for us. And now in this first day of 2017, humbly we come in His presence to ask for His guidance, His favour, even the heavenly blessing to be poured out in our life. We never know what may happen throughout this year, even what will be happened in the next 5 minutes we do not know. While this world become more sophisticated at one side we also realize at another side that the world itself become worse and ready to be ruined. Anything could be happened but as the children of God we do not need to be afraid nor overloaded with worry knowing that God already assured us with His promises about the strength from heaven.
God is my strength! This fact was recorded several times in the Bible not only as a theoretical message but more than that as an actual experience from the men of faith! Habakkuk had a huge trouble in his life. He was facing the uncertain future. He lived at a country with weak governance and ready to be defeated with enemy known with their dreadfulness. But instead of overwhelmed by his condition amazingly Habakkuk found the heavenly strength that gave us a powerful message and encouraging conclusion from his book.
Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labour of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls—Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills. Habakkuk 3:17-19 NKJV
STRONG GOD AND STRONG BELIEVER
The same message was recorded from the life of King David 2Sam.22:33-35. We may agree spontaneously even completely when we heard that our God is a strong God. We do not need to questioning His strength as the Bible already record it from Genesis to Revelation. But sometimes we may doubt when we heard that we can be strong as well.
God wants to share His strength for His children. The same quality of strength is available from heaven for all believers. The strength is given by God so we are enabled to do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthen us Phil.4:13. God is strong and He wants us to be strong as well! He does not want to see His children giving up with any weaknesses. He wants to make our feet like deer’s feet!
The Bible told us that a deer can do a professional leap Isa.35:6! Some articles told us that deer can jump as high as 4.5 metres! The average white tail deer can jump over an obstacle that is not 5, 7, or 8 feet high but 12 or more feet high. the U.S. Department of Agriculture rates white tail deer as being able to jump 15 feet high. Applied to our spiritual life, God does not want His people to be lame person. God wants us to jump over any obstacles!
Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters, shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. Isaiah 35:6 NKJV
Maybe in the last days or even in the last years we let the problem overcome us, but from now on let us arise and even leap because God wants us to do that. Jesus came in this world to take our infirmities and to bear our sicknesses Mt.8:17. The hands which hang down need to be strengthen as well as the feeble knees Heb.12:12. Right now we may face the ongoing difficult condition from last year but we must face that chronic situation with renewed attitude and strength. God promises that we can defeat whatever enemies we may have and then we can leap over a wall set by the devil Ps.18:29.
KEEP WALKING ON YOUR HIGH HILLS
In point of fact, God had already prepared the high hills for us. Another translation told us that He will make us walk upon our high places. Climb up to the high places could be more challenging than a level foot path in the city. But knowing that God already gave us strength just like the deer’s feet so we are not supposed to ignore even avoid the divine planning from God in our life.
Walking on the high hills could be difficult and sometimes can be dangerous as well. Falling down from high places could be more terrible rather than falling down from lower places. Amazingly God created the deer with unique design of feet and muscle that enabled them to keep walking on the high places even reach the top of the mountain! God equips deer for the roughest terrain. Habakkuk got that spiritual message in the middle of his trouble and sorrow. By faith he knew and believed that the difficult condition he may had was actually the high places that would allow him to know God closer and deeper, to have more experience with God, and to see the promises of God being fulfilled in his journey of life!
The same revelation also received by David in the midst of his jeopardy. Receiving the promise and anointing to be a king over Israel took David’s life to a dangerous threat from his own father in law. Being pursued by lot of people desiring his life for many years could be a devastating moment but David never let his spirit vanishing. By faith David believed that all of the tough condition he may had was the high places prepared by God to cultivate his faith. Because God wants to change us from glory to glory so we need to always prepare for new and fresh challenge 2Co.3:18. Because God wants to take us higher and fulfil the measure of the fullness of Christ so we need to have a heavenly perspective for the trouble we may have Eph.4:13.
THE SECRET POWER OF THE DEER
Before came to the conclusion and final message, Habakkuk was in struggle with the fact of his problem and it brought him to keep arguing with God. Sometimes, even in the most times, we may find too difficult for us to understand His divine planning and the way how He workout our condition. Fortunately, Habakkuk did not waste all of his time with arguing. Instead of filled up his mind with conflict, Habakkuk chose to simply come in God’s presence.
I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected. Habakkuk 2:1 NKJV
Questioning God for our condition will not diminish the problem and even could make the life getting worse. A lot of question may raise in this last days as we may see lot of unfair and discriminating things happening in this world. We must draw ourselves to the war room (read: prayer room) and allow God to speak instead of we keep asking questions. The powerful prayer happened as Habakkuk begin to pray in righteousness Jam.5:16. The only source for righteousness is the Word of God itself Jn.17:17. Instead of keep complaining Habakkuk opened his prayer with building up his faith with the wondrous work of God Hab.3:2. Habakkuk changed his focus from problem to sovereign God. Habakkuk chose to filled his brain with a faith-building memory.
Daily Bible reading is a good commitment and a pure source to always refresh our mind with heavenly food. The deer always pants for streams of water. Deer has strength by quench her thirst with fresh and renewed water, not from the muddy puddle! Fresh water for our soul come only from Jesus Christ Jn.4:14. The work of Holy Spirit will keep the fountain inside our life overflowing and always fresh Jn.7:38-39. Without any food, all people will suffer from hunger, become weak, and could be end up with terrible death. Faith without food will have no power, become weak, and will not endure for long. The Word of God is the food for faith Rm.10:17. Jesus gave us His words so we can read it, memorize it, and then apply it in our life. Only Jesus can fix our perspective for any issue we may have. Only Jesus can give the real hope, real strength. Only Jesus the real foundation through drought and storm.
Let’s start this year with the important thing for our faith and our future. Let’s declare this year as the year of strength as we walk with Jesus. Let’s declare this year as the year to walk in our high places as God wants to change us from glory to glory. Let’s make a leap as we stand in the love of Christ. Happy new year 2017. AMEN.
SONG
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand