Thursday, December 14, 2023
Habakkuk 2:3-4 (ESV)
3 For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;
it will surely come; it will not delay.
4 “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,
but the righteous shall live by his faith.”
I could write handfuls of posts about the last part of verse three: “If it seems slow, wait for it….” I think we can all identify with some kind of waiting that feels so slow. In the theme of Advent, think of kids counting down until Christmas day! But we know Christmas Day will surely come and will not delay. Sometimes, though, it’s harder to trust that a vision or dream or promise from God will ever come. If it seems slow… wait for it. If it feels slow… it is only slow in our timetable and in our feelings. We exercise our faith muscles when we trust the Lord for His timing and wait even when it seems slow. Keep waiting!
Prayer:
Psalm 126 (ESV)
1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
3 The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad.
4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.
LORD, please do great things for Your people in the Buddhist world! There are believers in the Buddhist world who are sowing seeds of the gospel in difficult places. They sow in tears and bear the seed of Your word. Many have seen little growth, little fruit. O LORD, we pray that they will reap with shouts of joy! Please bring in Your harvest in the Buddhist world—a great harvest of souls, people coming to You with great joy. In the Name of Jesus, in the Name of the Lord of the Harvest, Amen.