“You are loosed from your infirmities”

Scripture For Meditation — Habakkuk 2:1-3; Proverbs 16:3; Ps 37:4-5

Eyes Forward

Over the past two weeks, the focus of our fasting and praying has been on casting our minds back over our lives, seeking to identify and deal with the issues that have set us back and limited or disabled us from fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives.

And as we read yesterday, the purpose of setting Lazarus loose from those graveclothes, was so that he could then go on and fulfil his destiny!

This last week of the fast, we’ll be looking in the opposite direction; casting our gaze forward, to believe God for a vision for the new year, and to declare His word into the year.

In our first scripture text (Habakkuk 2:1-3), I want us to focus on some universal truths that I think can help us in our endeavours, learning and applying one or two of these spiritual truths in our focus on the coming year.

Habakkuk’s Attitude

Habakkuk’s attitude to hearing from God, is a relevant instruction to us, in his intentionality, determination and commitment to hearing what God had to say about the issue that he had brought before God (Read Habakkuk 1:12-17):

Pay particular notice to the highlighted words

• I will climb up to my watchtower and

• Stand at my guard post.

• There I will wait

• To see what the Lord says

• And How He will answer my complaint.

As a watchman looks out from his watch-tower into the distance, the prophet will look out for the answer or message from Heaven.

God’s Response

God responds to the prophet by painting a picture – a vision of what was to come, detailing His plans to redeem His people and judge their tormentors.

God’s response to Habakkuk is still relevant to us even now, whenever He gives us a vision concerning the issues of our lives. There are applicable universal truths in what God said to him, and there are applicable principles that we can adopt in responding to what God tells or shows us in our praying and waiting times:

He further instructed Habakkuk —

• Write My answer down

• Make it Plain so that those that will carry the message can read it as they run with it

• Know that this Vision that I show you has an appointed time

• It will be fulfilled

• Even when you think it is slow in coming

• Wait patiently

• It will come to pass

• It will not be delayed

Prayer Focus

• Start by praying that God will open your ears and cause you to hear His voice with clarity as you wait on Him for instructions for the new year.

• What are those things that you are believing God for in the coming year?

• What are the changes that you would love to see in your life?

• Physically

• In your relationships

• Business

• Career

• Job

• Ministry

• Finances

• Home / Family

Write them down in a prayer journal so you can have a visual of where you are going.

• What plans does God have in place to accomplish those things?

• How does He want you to respond to what He has shown /told you?

• Present these strategies before God, and ask Him to empower you to see them through.

More grace to you as you wait on Him!

Pastor Wale Ola