He’s Got My Attention by Deena McDaniel Positively Beautiful Blog 7/8/22

 


 

 

 

I listen to several podcasts. Like you, I find the information always interesting. We follow folks who entertain us, inform us, and make us laugh…sometimes cry. Most mornings I wake up to my husband catching up on the University of Oklahoma Football updates. We follow what gives us fun. What a joy it is to see God work. One of my daily podcasts is Revive Our Hearts. This daily dose of bible teaching has a way of opening my eyes to scripture and teaching I wouldn’t learn on my own. The other day it began, and I was ready to turn it off. Habakkuk. Uh! Warnings about a corrupt nation is not what I was interested in hearing about. Sorrow and sadness didn’t grab my interest.  God Laughed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I listened for a bit then switched to another favorite podcast where it was not a current episode.  It was a “lucky dip” random choice for me. And you guessed it, it was about the book of Habakkuk. Really? Was it seriously the same book? Okay, so I got the point and listened. Suddenly I remembered our women’s ministry leader had suggested for the summer to land on yes, the book of Habakkuk. God laughed I’m sure because he was going to get my attention one way or another.

 

 

 

 

 

Suffering through trails isn’t where I would naturally run to for light reading, but He pushed me there. And I began to understand. How long, how long do we have to wait to see our prayers answered? Habakkuk understood. I began to grab the insights. The name Habakkuk means to “embrace” or “wrestle.” He was willing to praise despite the grim outlook. Our trust is in God’s promises.  “Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.”-Habakkuk 3:1-2   He prays and understands wrath and mercy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have wonderful things ahead for us. And once the Lord grabs your attention, there’s no letting go.  Amid difficulties, we wait patiently.  We, like Habakkuk, see the wicked prosper. We may even wonder why the evil people get away with so much. Do you question God? Habakkuk did. I do.

 

 

 

 

 

He was brutally honest with God. Are you? “…yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”-Habakkuk 3:18   Despite not seeing the results requested we must ALWAYS trust and give God the glory. Indeed, a tough one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It didn’t stop there, I gave it one more “lucky dip” try, spinning through my podcasts with yet another teacher. Boom! Habakkuk. Seriously I laughed and began to get it. He got my attention. My prayers for certain family members' salvation have been delayed. Then I remembered, that my dad gave his life to the Lord at age 72 after my mom died. Though I didn’t lead him to the Lord I was there when the transformation occurred. I cried and we had a beer.

 

 

 

 

 

 God meets you where you’re at.

 

 

 

 

God shows us we’re just like this prophet who lived around 610 before Christ was born.  Questioning God is natural and common. We all wonder why the wicked seem to get away with so much. We all wonder about the evil in the world. Habakkuk presents our same struggles, why, how and when. Tough questions are ok. Jesus even cried out to God while nailed to a cross.  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”- Mathew 27:46  Fully God and fully man, Christ’s humanity is being understood as Psalm 22 prophecy is fulfilled.

 

 

 

 

 

We all need faith to continue to believe our prayers will be answered. This past weekend as we celebrated the 4th of July, we had the joy of some of our children here. Arlowe our granddaughter, brings this house to life. I pray someday to look down the pew at church and see all my children and grandchildren near me and walking with the Lord. How long Lord? Soon I hear him say, soon. What are you praying for and waiting upon? God moves when he’s ready. And sometimes he turns every single aspect of your life to one point. Watch and see. Often, he makes it very obvious to me. God is always right.  

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