Join us for Day 29 of 30 days to embracing God's disruptions and detours; a preview of our new Bible study, The Mary Answer. Today's devotion is called, "Don't Forget the Because." You can find out how you can sign up for a free copy of our upcoming study and be a part of our launch team in the show notes.
Day 29-Don't Forget the Because (transcript & links)
Read the Word: Habakkuk 3:17-19 Read today's scriptures and take note of anything that catches your heart. What do you observe that God might want you to single out and pray about? Write down your observations.
Dental work is my nemesis. I dread the appointment for days. I've never been a big fan of mouth pain. Even a routine cleaning throws me for a loop. I've always had a hard time remembering to floss. When I shared that with my dentist at an appointment, my dentist told me, oh, you don't have to floss your teeth every day. Shocked at this new revelation of oral care, I answered, really? And he glibly answered, only the ones you want to keep.
Knowing the "because" brings tasks and commands to life. Just telling me to floss every day for good mouth health, whatever that is, wasn't very motivating. The because—you're going to lose your teeth—was the clincher.
In our journey to embrace the disruptions and detours God brings our way, we need to know the because to buy in. Some scholars believe that the short book of Habakkuk was written to prepare Israel for captivity by the Babylonians using a series of oracles. But at the end of this short three-chapter book, Habakkuk ends with a prayer that contains the three necessary declarations of making it through disruption with our faith strengthened: though, yet, and because.
Though (v. 17): "though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls…" There is nothing good on this list, so we know the prophet is setting us up for how to deal with trouble--whatever is coming.
Yet (v. 18): "yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior." Now these two verses together represent a statement of faith about trouble. They are comforting. But they are also perplexing. How is this possible? Enter the because.
Because (v. 19): "The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights." When you add the because, we understand that it is possible to rejoice in trouble. Not because of what we believe, but because of Who He Is.
Friend, it's one thing to know what the Bible promises, and another great thing to believe it's true. But until we accept that this life of faith is only possible because of Who God is, we just have some promises on paper. They are true, because the one who promised is True. Never, ever forget the because.
Wait in prayer: Is it possible that our faith can be in our faith and not in our God? If I just believe, it will be true? Confess to God that your faith is in Him, not in what you believe. Thank Him for his power at work within you, for his intervention of blessings and trouble in your life. Ask Him to help you see disruption for what it really is—an opportunity to get closer to Him. And ask Him to help you really believe that He is the because behind your faith. .
Worship: I Believe (The Creed) performed by Hillsong Worship
Links (click 'em, they're live)
Link to lyric video of I Believe by Hillsong Worship. This wonderful video was made in Kiev.
Click to sign up and get your free copy of The Mary Answer and join our launch team.
