Praise Awaits [Devotional from Habakkuk]

Devotions ChopChop ^ | March 16, 2009 | Dave Miller (tenger)

[tenger]

I saw the tents of Cushan in distress, the dwellings of Midian in anguish.

Were you angry with the rivers, O LORD ? Was your wrath against the streams? Did you rage against the sea when you rode with your horses and your victorious chariots?

You uncovered your bow, you called for many arrows. Selah

You split the earth with rivers; the mountains saw you and writhed. Torrents of water swept by; the deep roared and lifted its waves on high.

Sun and moon stood still in the heavens at the glint of your flying arrows, at the lightning of your flashing spear.

In wrath you strode through the earth and in anger you threshed the nations.

You came out to deliver your people, to save your anointed one. You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness, you stripped him from head to foot. Selah

With his own spear you pierced his head when his warriors stormed out to scatter us, gloating as though about to devour the wretched who were in hiding.

You trampled the sea with your horses, churning the great waters. Habakkuk 3:6-15

The ten verses in this section of Habakkuk’s prayer re-emphasize God’s glory and majesty. The Lord is worthy to be praised. It is a good thing to praise God. There's no greater time than the present to praise Him because:

• it gives us perspective on who He is and what He has done
• it reminds us of our role in relation to Him (potter/clay, master/servant, Father/children)
• if we don't, He could ask a few rocks to do the same (Luke 19:40)
• it acknowledges that it's not really about us as much as we hate to admit it
• it peels away our subtle pride of desiring to be in control
• He's worthy.

Certainly life would go on if we didn’t stop to praise God. But we'd miss out in a big way if we didn’t.