Habits from Habakkuk

I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and

what I will answer when I am corrected.

Habakkuk 2:1

The prophet Habakkuk spoke these words following an interchange between himself and God

over the rampant wickedness taking place in Israel at the time. God responded to him by telling

him that he was raising up the Chaldeans, a fierce and godless nation, to bring judgment

against Israel in her own sin. The wisdom of God sometimes baffles us, doesn’t it? He not only

uses good, but evil, to bring about His glorious plans. Remember, this doesn’t mean that He

authors or commends sin, but that He is not thwarted by it to use even sin to bring about His

good plans.

One of the most profound statements in the book of Habakkuk is this very verse, because in it,

Habakkuk does three things of note. First, Habakkuk places himself in a position of waiting and

watching for the Lord. Secondly, Habakkuk recognizes that God’s answer to his concerns isn’t

simply God apologizing for His ways, but Habakkuk seeing that he stands to be corrected.

Lastly, Habakkuk intends to respond to the response of God. He doesn’t plan on ignoring God if

he doesn’t get his way; no, Habakkuk intends to continue on with God despite having to wait on

Him and despite hearing what may not be agreeable, even to the point of correction.

Take your cues from this verse today. Get in the habit of quieting yourself and waiting for the

Lord for answers. Seek Him for answers but be patient and humble enough to wait for them. Be

willing to be corrected and carry such an attitude that you delight in God setting you straight.

Conviction is a beautiful thing when we can see that we’ve been wrong but that God is calling

things out in us because He loves us and wants to help us. Lastly, plan on continuing your

conversations with Him. Don’t pout when you don’t like the answers or blame when He points

out things in your life; instead, thank Him and keep walking and talking with Him. Your talks with

Him may get very raw at times, but this is better than abandoning the relationship. Godly people

have times where they shout to God, cry to God, feel very broken before God, struggle to

understand Him, but they don’t hate him or reject Him. They may feel many things but God

sticks it out with them. You’ll notice that these actions are all similar to the call of passages like

Proverbs 3:5-6, signs of wisdom in trusting God and not leaning on one’s own understanding.

Braver than Lions exists to help people grow in walking bravely in their faith in Christ. I cannot

help but think many times when I write these devotionals that bravery is often what happens

when other necessary elements of the Christian life are addressed. Being quiet before God,

waiting for Him, understanding that He’s God and you’re not, and willingly following even when it

hurts are definitely paths to bravery. I hope you grow in your bravery to do whatever God calls

you to do. Be blessed, my friends.

Sam Stringer

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by

permission. All rights reserved.