Seriously? Habbakkuk?

I don’t read anything in the Minor Prophets very often.  In fact the only time I really go there is while reading the One Year Bible….But this morning I felt compelled to read Habakkuk, and I’m glad I did.

Maybe it’s just me but times seem to be a bit overwhelming.  Everything is not going like it was supposed to.  I had my entire life planned out when I was five, but when the fireman thing fell through I went with preaching and it’s been pretty good so far.  Of course that’s not to say that it hasn’t had its ups and downs.  Yes there are struggles.  Yes there are more hurts than I ever knew where possible and there have been moments of terror mixed with agony.  Yep, Pastoring is by far the most trying and heavy thing I have ever done in my entire life.  But don’t misunderstand me, I’m not complaining; I’m just filling you in on some background to help you enjoy a great God moment.

So, here I am feeling the….well…..let’s just call it weight……So here I am feeling the weight of what I do, and I feel drawn to read Habakkuk.

And God blows my mind.

Maybe He’s saying it to you too.

Habakkuk was going through the hardest time ever.  EVER!  [you can read it yourself] At the end of the book, in Chapter 3:18 Habakkuk pens this:

“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.  I will be joyful in God my savior.  The sovereign Lord is my strength, He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, and enables me to go on to the heights.”

You can just hear and feel the choice he is making.  In spite of the terror, in spite of the famine, in spite of the doomsayers and all the negativity he chooses joy!  That joy is so far from him he even has to make this declaration.  I choose joy!

All too often we think joy is something that is handed to us, but it’s not.  Nothing is handed to us, everything is a choice.  Which mindset are you going to walk in today?  If you say you don’t have a choice in the matter then you just chose a victim mindset.  But you have the opportunity to join Habakkuk, and me, and today we choose joy.  Joy in spite of the junk.  Joy in spite of the pain.  Joy in site of our lack.  Joy in spite of everything the world throws our way.  I choose joy.

Go ahead and make a verbal declaration – that means out loud – ‘I will be joyful in God my savior today.  He gives me strength.’

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