Tag: Mark Harris

The theme of the book of Habakkuk is the journey of spiritual growth from perplexity and doubt to the height of absolute trust in God. The ability to maintain our spiritual confidence comes through the act of giving God our confusion and choosing to trust His ability to keep us and to sustain us no matter what we face and go through.

Read the Story: Habakkuk chapters 1-3

Habakkuk lived in a very difficult and confusing time in the history of Judah. The king of Judah, Jehoiakim was an evil king who led the people into open rebellion against God. This moral decline throughout the nation greatly troubled Habakkuk, but what even troubled and confused him more was it seemed God was silent. How long would God allow this mess to continue? (Hab.1:2-4)

God answered Habakkuk’s questions (Hab.1:5-11). He told Habakkuk that judgment was on the way and He was going to use the Babylonians to administer it. This troubled the prophet even more. The Babylonians were even more wicked than the people of Judah, how could God justify using them? (Hab.1:12-17)

In chapter two, God again answers the prophet’s questions telling him Babylon would eventually experience His judgment as well, but as for him he was to live by faith trusting in the wisdom of God. (Hab.2:4). Habakkuk’s name means “he who clings.” Though things were confusing and the prophet didn’t understand it all, by working through his questions and God’s answers, he arrived at a place of clinging to God in absolute trust in God’s wisdom and faithfulness.

He wrote, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vine, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pens and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (Hab. 3:17-18)
Habakkuk was declaring that even if conditions got so bad that all natural hope was gone, he was choosing to trust God no matter what. His confidence came from clinging to God trusting His wisdom and goodness.

Activity:
Like Habakkuk, write a declaration of your trust in God’s wisdom and goodness in spite of the confusion your circumstances maybe producing.

The theme of the book of Habakkuk is the journey of spiritual growth from perplexity and doubt to the height of absolute trust in God. The ability to maintain our spiritual confidence comes through the act of giving God our confusion and choosing to trust His ability to keep us and to sustain us no matter what we face and go through.

Habakkuk lived in a very difficult and confusing time in the history of Judah. The king of Judah, Jehoiakim was an evil king who led the people into open rebellion against God. This moral decline throughout the nation greatly troubled Habakkuk, but what even troubled and confused him more was it seemed God was silent. How long would God allow this mess to continue? (Hab.1:2-4)

God answered Habakkuk’s questions (Hab.1:5-11). He told Habakkuk that judgment was on the way and He was going to use the Babylonians to administer it. This troubled the prophet even more. The Babylonians were even more wicked than the people of Judah, how could God justify using them? (Hab.1:12-17)

In chapter two, God again answers the prophet’s questions telling him Babylon would eventually experience His judgment as well, but as for him he was to live by faith trusting in the wisdom of God. (Hab.2:4). Habakkuk’s name means “he who clings.” Though things were confusing and the prophet didn’t understand it all, by working through his questions and God’s answers, he arrived at a place of clinging to God in absolute trust in God’s wisdom and faithfulness.

He wrote, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vine, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pens and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (Hab. 3:17-18)
Habakkuk was declaring that even if conditions got so bad that all natural hope was gone, he was choosing to trust God no matter what. His confidence came from clinging to God trusting His wisdom and goodness.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” From his prison cell in Rome, Paul was encouraging the Philippian believers that God was at work in their lives using every circumstance to teach them His ways and to shape them in the image of Jesus.

Read the Story: Philippians 1:12-26

Paul didn’t know if he was going to live or die in prison but he was convinced that God was at work and would use his circumstances for His glory. Paul understood that God is committed to complete what He starts in our lives. We may not always comprehend or recognize how God can use what we are going through but we can be confident that He will use it for our good and His glory. (Rom.8:28)

That’s why the writer of Proverbs could write, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” (Prov. 3:5-8)

To acknowledge the Lord in confusing circumstances is to acknowledge that He is working in spite of what we may feel or how circumstances might appear. It’s to acknowledge that as we seek His face and will, He will show us the path to take that will lead us to spiritual health and victory.

Activity:
Write a note to the Lord acknowledging that He is at work in your circumstances and that you are trusting Him to complete what you have entrusted to Him. Then write out two or three simple steps He puts into your heart of how you can begin to walk out your victory.

Maintaining and nurturing spiritual confidence is the act of assuring ourselves that God cares and is approachable. We can talk to Him about anything and everything that concerns us. When Peter and John were on trial before the Sanhedrin who instructed them to stop talking about Jesus, the Jewish leaders were astonished at their courage and wisdom and took note that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)

Read the Story: Acts 4:1-22

Peter and John had confidence because they had spent time with Jesus. They understood that Jesus cared about what they cared about. Hebrews 4:15 & 16 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.”

The Lord totally understands everything we are facing. He understands our feelings and emotions. He understands what it is like to go through dark times and sufferings. And because we know He feels our pain and understands our circumstances, we can confidently cast our cares on Him knowing He cares of us. (I Peter 5:7) The courage and boldness of confidence comes from spending time with the Lord.

I John 5:14-15 says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of Him.” When we understand the vastness of God’s love for us and the extent to which His love has gone in order to redeem us and to bless us, it gives us confidence to approach Him in prayer casting our care on His infinite love.

Activity:
Set apart some time today to spend with Jesus telling Him about the things that concern you. Write down what you sense He is speaking to you and how what He is speaking encourages your confidence that His love will carry you through.

Maintaining spiritual confidence is the act of resting in the fact that God’s presence is constantly with us. When Israel’s leadership was in transition from Moses to Joshua, there were many overwhelming obstacles Joshua had to face. God encouraged the spiritual confidence of Joshua with the promise of His continual presence.

Read the Story: Joshua 1:1-9

God told Joshua, “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (vs.5)
The assurance of the presence of God was the assurance of Joshua’s success and victory. There were fortified cities with vast armies that had to be conquered. Israel was often outnumbered, out resourced, and out skilled in warfare, but the presence of God with them made them more than enough. God’s presence sustained them through otherwise impossible situations. Resting in that assurance bolstered Joshua’s spiritual confidence to undertake impossible battles.

For us, life is often filled with floods, fiery trials and difficulties we can’t see our way through. When Isaiah was facing those kinds of conditions, God said to him, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you a blaze. For I am the Lord, your God.” (Isaiah 43:2) For Isaiah, resting in the assurance of God’s presence was the guarantee to victory.

The Psalmist David wrote, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” (Psalm 23:4) Resting in that fact dispels fear and emboldens our spiritual confidence.

Activity:
As you lay your head upon your pillow, tonight, picture yourself in the presence of Jesus. Thank Him that His presence guarantees your victory.

Jesus knew that when circumstance become difficult and confusing that it would be essential for His followers to maintain a strong spiritual confidence in order to endure.

Read the story: Mark 13:3-13

The disciples had asked Jesus about the signs of His coming at the end of the age. In answering their questions Jesus gave them four instructions for surviving those days which would be confusing and difficult causing many to fall away.

1. First, He told them, Don’t be misled. (vs.5)
There will be many opinions and false claims which will deceive many. Don’t jump on the band wagon of every speculation and prophetic claim that comes along. Be grounded in God’s Word and sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

2. Second, Jesus told them, Don’t panic. (Vs.7)
When you hear and see frightening conditions don’t be alarmed, these are simply the beginning of birth pains. Don’t give place to fear; don’t allow these conditions to confuse or overwhelm you. These are necessary in order to prepare the world for Jesus’ return.

3. Third, Jesus told them, Be on guard. (vs.9)
Be alert and watch for opportunities to use the circumstances to share your faith and to minister hope to others. Be tuned-in to the heart of God, He has purposes for what you are going through.

4. Fourthly, Jesus told them, Stand firm. (vs.13)
Endure to the end, bare up, patiently persevere empowered by the Holy Spirit, remain strong in God’s strength.

Activity:
Ask the Lord to show you opportunities in our present difficult conditions where He can use you to witness and minister hope to others around you.