Focus and Freedom (Habakkuk Part 1)
Habakkuk has much to say about focus and freedom. Chapter 3 of this book opens with our prophet crying out in praise. The first word in his prayer is LORD. Habakkuk is making it clear who is in control. The term for God as Lord reminds us that He is not just a religion, a symbol, a denomination, or an aspect of our life. He is our life and He is Lord of all including us!
Next Habakkuk says, “I have heard of your fame…” Remember this is the prophet that started discouraged and asking “why?” and “how long?” He is the guy that couldn’t wait for some judgment on the unjust. His circumstances have only gotten worse, yet he has changed. He has discovered some important things about his God and decided to move his focus in four key ways. Today’s blog will cover the first two ways Habakkuk moved his focus and the next published blog will cover the last two ways. As you read today, have your Bible near, look up the Scriptures for yourself, and let the Lord speak to you personally.
I. Habakkuk remembered that God and his ways are famous and of renown. Renown according to dictionary.com, is widespread and high repute; fame. God’s ways are real and not like anything we could ever reproduce or even imagine. You see, it is part of every human to want to matter, to have someone know their name, to make something of their life that is worth noting. The trouble starts when we leave God out of it. Only God can fill up that need to matter that is within us. Only God calling our name and knowing our name can give us purpose that is lasting. Only then can we understand that it is not our fame, name or glory that matters in the end, but His! Be encouraged that the pressure is off you when your sole desire becomes to live to display and draw attention to God's glory. Take a look at some of the verses that remind us of God’s glory, renown and fame that are all taken from the NIV. As you read, ask God to show you how you can live for His glory and fame.
"We are your servants," they said to Joshua. But Joshua asked, "Who are you and where do you come from?" They answered: "Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan…”Joshua 9:8-10
“But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.” Ps. 102:12
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” Ps. 115:1
“Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, through all generations.”Ps. 135:13
“Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our heart!” Is. 26:8
“Instead of the thorn bush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for and everlasting sign which will not be destroyed.” Is. 55:13
“For as a belt is bound around a man’s waist, so I bound the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to me, declares the Lord, to be my people for my renown and praise and honor, But they have not listened!” Jer. 13:11
“You performed miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt and have continued them to this day, both in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown that is still yours.” Jer 32:20
So you see, when we take the focus off our own justice, reputation, fame, glory, renown, name, position, power or control, and we put our focus solely on God’s renown and doing all we do to His glory, something beautiful happens: We are free!
Free to be all that God wants us to be. Free to seek Him. Free to love others even if they don’t love us. Free from trying to compete, control, compare, criticize and cry that we deserve “this or that” or that “it is not fair!” Free to seek the Lord personally and daily let Him speak directly to us. Free to leave judgment and justice to God. Free to let those around us succeed greatly. Free to live without always feeling like we have to explain everything or make it okay for everybody. Free to just be quiet. Free to be still and just know He is God. When it is not about us anymore and it is all about God’s fame, renown, and glory, that is real freedom! Don’t you want to live free? But that is not all Habakkuk discovered. Let’s look at the second way he changed his focus.
II. Habakkuk changed his focus from what he saw around him, to Who he saw above him. He said in 3:2, “I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord…” That is so key! How do I stand in awe instead of stand in frustration? I stand in awe of God's deeds rather than focus on the deeds of men!
You see, when I quit looking at the problems and the people, and look into God’s perfect law, the Bible, I am reminded every time that God never makes mistakes! Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen”
See, I know I forget that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to me. I know I underestimate my God. I know when I am looking at the giants in my life instead of remembering to stand in awe of how big my God’s deeds are! Everyday it is a choice to live in my own power and face all the D’s (discouragement, disappointment, depression, despondency, desperation, defeat, disillusionment) of life or live by God’s power and watch Him do immeasurably more than I could ever ask or imagine in my own little brain or heart!
How about you? Can you relate? What are you living for? Who's power are you depending on? Who's name are you working on making great? Pray right now that God will free you to live for his fame, renown, glory and name rather than your own. Be like Habakkuk and change your focus from self to Savior, from problems to praise, from performance to freedom. Go and be free!
Next Habakkuk says, “I have heard of your fame…” Remember this is the prophet that started discouraged and asking “why?” and “how long?” He is the guy that couldn’t wait for some judgment on the unjust. His circumstances have only gotten worse, yet he has changed. He has discovered some important things about his God and decided to move his focus in four key ways. Today’s blog will cover the first two ways Habakkuk moved his focus and the next published blog will cover the last two ways. As you read today, have your Bible near, look up the Scriptures for yourself, and let the Lord speak to you personally.
I. Habakkuk remembered that God and his ways are famous and of renown. Renown according to dictionary.com, is widespread and high repute; fame. God’s ways are real and not like anything we could ever reproduce or even imagine. You see, it is part of every human to want to matter, to have someone know their name, to make something of their life that is worth noting. The trouble starts when we leave God out of it. Only God can fill up that need to matter that is within us. Only God calling our name and knowing our name can give us purpose that is lasting. Only then can we understand that it is not our fame, name or glory that matters in the end, but His! Be encouraged that the pressure is off you when your sole desire becomes to live to display and draw attention to God's glory. Take a look at some of the verses that remind us of God’s glory, renown and fame that are all taken from the NIV. As you read, ask God to show you how you can live for His glory and fame.
"We are your servants," they said to Joshua. But Joshua asked, "Who are you and where do you come from?" They answered: "Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan…”Joshua 9:8-10
“But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.” Ps. 102:12
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” Ps. 115:1
“Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, through all generations.”Ps. 135:13
“Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our heart!” Is. 26:8
“Instead of the thorn bush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for and everlasting sign which will not be destroyed.” Is. 55:13
“For as a belt is bound around a man’s waist, so I bound the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to me, declares the Lord, to be my people for my renown and praise and honor, But they have not listened!” Jer. 13:11
“You performed miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt and have continued them to this day, both in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown that is still yours.” Jer 32:20
So you see, when we take the focus off our own justice, reputation, fame, glory, renown, name, position, power or control, and we put our focus solely on God’s renown and doing all we do to His glory, something beautiful happens: We are free!
Free to be all that God wants us to be. Free to seek Him. Free to love others even if they don’t love us. Free from trying to compete, control, compare, criticize and cry that we deserve “this or that” or that “it is not fair!” Free to seek the Lord personally and daily let Him speak directly to us. Free to leave judgment and justice to God. Free to let those around us succeed greatly. Free to live without always feeling like we have to explain everything or make it okay for everybody. Free to just be quiet. Free to be still and just know He is God. When it is not about us anymore and it is all about God’s fame, renown, and glory, that is real freedom! Don’t you want to live free? But that is not all Habakkuk discovered. Let’s look at the second way he changed his focus.
II. Habakkuk changed his focus from what he saw around him, to Who he saw above him. He said in 3:2, “I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord…” That is so key! How do I stand in awe instead of stand in frustration? I stand in awe of God's deeds rather than focus on the deeds of men!
You see, when I quit looking at the problems and the people, and look into God’s perfect law, the Bible, I am reminded every time that God never makes mistakes! Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen”
See, I know I forget that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to me. I know I underestimate my God. I know when I am looking at the giants in my life instead of remembering to stand in awe of how big my God’s deeds are! Everyday it is a choice to live in my own power and face all the D’s (discouragement, disappointment, depression, despondency, desperation, defeat, disillusionment) of life or live by God’s power and watch Him do immeasurably more than I could ever ask or imagine in my own little brain or heart!
How about you? Can you relate? What are you living for? Who's power are you depending on? Who's name are you working on making great? Pray right now that God will free you to live for his fame, renown, glory and name rather than your own. Be like Habakkuk and change your focus from self to Savior, from problems to praise, from performance to freedom. Go and be free!
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