The year 2020 seems to have left many of us feeling emotionally drained and perhaps even empty. At times, it’s felt challenging, tiring and even unfruitful.
There have been losses to navigate with employment, holidays, and time with friends and family. Our spiritual journey has often been a solitary one, not being able to join together to worship and encourage each other. It’s required each of us to dig our roots down deeper and rely on God’s strength and nearness. Praise God, He is with us!!!
I love this passage from Habakkuk 3:17-19 (AMP):
‘Though the fig tree does not blossom
And there is no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive fails
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock is cut off from the fold
And there are no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will [choose to] rejoice in the Lord;
I will [choose to] shout in exultation in the [victorious] God of my salvation!
The Lord God is my strength [my source of courage, my invincible army];
He has made my feet [steady and sure] like hinds’ feet
And makes me walk [forward with spiritual confidence] on my [a]high places [of challenge and responsibility]. ‘
And there is no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive fails
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock is cut off from the fold
And there are no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will [choose to] rejoice in the Lord;
I will [choose to] shout in exultation in the [victorious] God of my salvation!
The Lord God is my strength [my source of courage, my invincible army];
He has made my feet [steady and sure] like hinds’ feet
And makes me walk [forward with spiritual confidence] on my [a]high places [of challenge and responsibility]. ‘
The passage begins with a sobering picture of reality- fig trees not blossoming, no fruit on the vines and the olive yield failing…. As daunting as all this is, Habakkuk declares in v.18 “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will shout in exultation”.
I will choose to praise the Lord, the AMP version says.
Regardless of my circumstances, regardless of what is facing me square in the face, I make a choice each day to rejoice in the Lord and declare His authority over my situations!!!!
Why? Because the Lord God is my strength- my source of courage, my invincible army!
Habakkuk knows who He worships and he is confident in his victorious God to bring him through the tough times.
Worship is a powerful tool at our disposal. I’ve felt God challenge me in this past week to get my worship on. To look the places of bareness and lack in the face and say “yet will I rejoice in the Lord- the victorious God of my salvation”!
Worship has always been a form of spiritual warfare. The Israelites marched around Jericho for 7 days and and as they blew their trumpets and let out a shout of victory, the walls that had kept them from entering, simply fell to the ground.
In 2 Chronicles 20 Jehoshaphat faced a terrifying battle as enemies came against him. He fasted, prayed and sought the Lord. I love how he gathered the singers and musicians and sent them out ahead of the army. He knew that the battle he faced was not just physical, it was spiritual. He engaged in the spiritual battle with an army of worshippers. (I love this!) As they lifted their song to the Lord, God caused their enemies to become confused and they started attacking each other. This battle was fought and won in worship.
We also have the opportunity to lift our voices to God and worship over the things we are walking through. As we worship things shift in the spiritual realm. As we declare God’s goodness over our life, His sovereignty over our circumstances, our faith rises and we enable God to fight for us.
We are all facing battles- big and small. Just like Habakkuk we have a choice- will we choose to worship God in the dry and barren places, in the places where we may feel we are already defeated. Will we lift our eyes to Him and declare His goodness, His faithfulness and His constant nearness and presence.
And as v.19 states, God is able to make our feet steady and sure and enable us to walk forward with confidence in our places of challenge and responsibility.
Each time we choose to worship, we shift our focus back onto our Incredible, Mighty, Powerful God! He is our strength and our courage and He will give us what we need to walk forward.
Blessings!
Tammy
Abide 
Once again Tammy your words have come at just the right time,thank you for your encouraging and uplifting words
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Tammy I love reading your posts your mum send s on to me they are areal inspiration especially at the moment. Our own little church has had to close down with all that is going on and we are unable to travel any long distance or for any length of time.
Your grandparents would be so proud.
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Thanks Aunty Ruth. so nice to hear from you. Hope you’re all well.Much love x
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Thankyou for this thought provoking reminder to keep our eyes fixed on God almighty.
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I love this Tam. We so easily forget the power of the Lord that can beautifully flows through us and into our lives when we choose Him. When we put Him first. Such a great reminder. Thank you.
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