“I will take my stand at my watch post and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.” Habakkuk 2:1
This verse in Habakkuk has spoken to me for years. Habakkuk had already laid out his complaints to the Lord in chapter 1. He felt that he had been clinging to God to help Israel and he felt that he was getting nowhere. That his prayers were hitting the ceiling. Have you ever felt that way? I know I have. There have been battles that I can look back on in my life that, with the looking back perspective, I can trace God’s hand, but in the middle of it, I had to discipline myself to try to see it. At the time you are in the battle sometimes it is so very hard to see. I have wondered “how long Lord?” This is why this verse has become so important to me, along with journaling and clinging to God. You see I think that when we are praying for something our next step is to stand watch and see what His answer will be. That may sound like I am trying to make it too simple and maybe I am. Make no mistake I have been in some battles in this life that didn’t seem simple at the time. But when you lay it at His feet, you must believe for an answer. I love that Habakkuk has taken the posture of standing watch to see what “he will say to me.”
I often talk of laying things at Jesus feet and leave them there. And yes, that is what I believe. In the book of Daniel it says that as soon as you say the prayer a word is sent out to give an answer.
“At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved.” Daniel 9:23
I believe that answers are falling into place as soon as we pray. But you see God’s timing is not our timing. I think there is still a posture of praying and watching for the answer that we have to take in our hearts and minds once we have laid our requests, complaints, or pleas at His feet. That is not as much for Him as it is for us. Many times in God’s word we are told to be alert, to be sober-minded. One of my favorite verses is in 1 Peter.
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
You may wonder why in the world that verse could be a favorite because it may not sound very encouraging. But it is a reminder to me not to let my guard down. Just like when Moses was on top of that hill and when he would begin to tire and to let his guard down the Amalekites would start winning, me letting my guard down gives the devil a foothold into my life. I want to stay in a posture of prayer and to be watchful for how God will work things out for me at all times. And I want my life to exhibit that. I am not sure it always does. I fail, I say dumb things and I do dumb things. But my prayer and the desire of my heart is to raise my banner high and be watchful of how He will work on my behalf and on the behalf of those that I love and am praying for.
If you are in a battle my friend, you can be assured that as soon as you send out your requests He is working on your behalf. Stand watch, be alert, keep your guard up so that you don’t let the devil find a way in and watch for his answer. Raise that banner high! And if you are having trouble keeping your arms up, call for some reinforcements to help you!
Restore 