SUBJECT: IN THE MIDDLE OF CALAMITY I CHOOSE TO REJOICE IN THE LORD.
SCRIPTURE: Habakkuk 3:17-19 ~ Amplified Bible
17 Though the fig tree does not blossom And there is no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive fails And the fields produce no food, Though the flock is cut off from the fold And there are no cattle in the stalls,
18 Yet I will [choose to] rejoice in the Lord; I will [choose to] shout in exultation in the [victorious] God of my salvation!
19 The Lord God is my strength [my source of courage, my invincible army]; He has made my feet [steady and sure] like hinds’ feet And makes me walk [forward with spiritual confidence] on my [a]high places [of challenge and responsibility].
In verse 17 the Prophet Habakkuk talks about things that didn’t grow and because of this there’s no food. He goes on to say there’s no sheep in the pen or cattle in the stall.
We may not have things growing in a field, and we may not have sheep or cattle but each of us are going through something as we read this. (family issues, sickness, finances, our job, loss, depression, anxiety; and other issues)
However, just like Habakkuk in verse 18 we must choose to rejoice in the Lord, we must choose to shout in triumphant joy in the victorious God of our salvation!
IN THE MIDDLE OF CALAMITY I CHOOSE TO REJOICE IN THE LORD.
No matter how it looks, or how bad it is, or what they think or say; IN THE MIDDLE OF CALAMITY I CHOOSE TO REJOICE IN THE LORD.
Verse 19 in the lesson is so beautiful. He talks about the Lord being his strength, his source of courage, his invincible army.
We serve a God that’s our strength and not only is HE the God our strength, but HE is our army and this army is incapable of being defeated.
Let’s pause and take this in………….this verse reconfirms that we WIN with God! It reconfirms that we’re soldiers in an army that will not loose battles. Again; we WIN!!!!!
For this reason IN THE MIDDLE OF CALAMITY I CHOOSE TO REJOICE IN THE LORD.
Then Habakkuk goes on to say that God made his feet steady and sure like hinds feet.
A hind is a female deer that can place her back feet exactly where her front feet stepped. Not one inch off!
She is able to run and leave everything behind. In times of danger, she is able to run securely and not get off track. The hind is able to scale unusually difficult terrain and elude predators.
Because we have hinds feet we move above our circumstances.
Because we have hinds feet our steps are steady; we’re not running all over the place in a tizzy.
Because we have hinds feet we can escape our enemies and gain freedom.
Because we have hinds feet we won’t be one inch off!
God gives us the grace, courage, and the inner strength that we need to press on to gain new heights and experience new views.
Yesssssssss IN THE MIDDLE OF CALAMITY I CHOOSE TO REJOICE IN THE LORD.
Life happens to all of us; don’t stop in the middle of your calamity.
Don’t give up in the middle of your calamity.
Don’t go backwards in the middle of your calamity.
Keep pressing forward. Use your hinds feet to RISE above everything; and IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR CALAMITY CHOOSE TO REJOICE IN THE LORD!