IN OUR DAY

A verse in an unlikely place seems to keep coming up as I read, hear from others, etc.--a verse from Habakkuk. (Habakkuk??) Yes.

"LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy." (Hab. 3:2)

A few years ago I ran across this verse. We had revival at our church, and God touched me that I should pray this for us--"renew them in our day, in our time make them known."

Now I keep hearing these again. Is there a message for me in this repetition or just a coincidence? What do you think? The sovereignty of God and His purposes lead me to believe that things do not just happen apart from either His doing or His allowing. So why am I hearing this message?

It is easy today to look at many of our churches in America and to think, "God is not working today," and to just hold our hands up and give up. Many just do this while waiting for Jesus to return or for their death--heaven to come.

But is that the right attitude. I know that God is working today in some new ways--creative ways--outside the box ways. He still is God and He still is at work (remember what Blackaby says in "Experiencing God"?). We see a house church movement--we see amazing things in China and other countries, and, yes, we see God is at work in America too. Some of us are needing to learn some new ways to reach and teach and disciple. (Isn't that fun and easy?) Some of us are just not fitting in anymore in this world or the new ways the church is moving. But God is "renewing His deeds in our time, making Himself known."

Maybe you and I need to get into more of the prayer for this. I am praying "Urge the LORD of the harvest to thrust out workers into His harvest fields." Maybe I need to add this verse from Habakkuk to my prayer. Does this have something to agree with our Lord's Prayer, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven"?

It is great to see God at work anytime, but especially in our time. I love hearing of God's work in China and Guatemala and Korea and other nations, but isn't it also super when we see it for ourselves--in our own time and our own place? When we see God at work around us (Blackaby again) and through us and in us? When we experience His revival and supernatural work in our church and town and region?

Church planting movements--this movement of God today reminds me that my vision is way too small. It is not just about "me and God" or "God and my church." It is about God doing a massive outpouring and us "standing in awe of Him and His deeds, in our time." Would you love to see that?

God is at work. Will we stand idly by as the apostles did when Jesus ascended to heaven, or will we let Him work through our prayers and our lives to see what He wants to do in "Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth" (Acts 1:8) through us.

Stand in awe of Him and His deeds more, and maybe your vision will grow to include more than just "me and mine" and the small things we want. Or just sit and wait til He returns. God told the apostles to go where He told them and wait. But sometimes, waiting means active waiting rather than passively holding on for heaven and Jesus' return.

Lord in our time--in our lives--in our region and nation and world, renew Your deeds, and let me stand in awe of You more!

What do you think?