Progress with Purpose - Encouragement Café - July 25, 2017

Progress With Purpose
By Andrea Pierce
Tuesday, July 25, 2017

“If you think you know it all, you’re a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from others.” Proverbs 28:26 MSG

Have you ever wished that you could see God in human form?  I know I have.  As a little girl, I used to imagine what it would look like if Jesus physically walked into my house. 

I think we tend to forget that God understands what it’s like to be human.  He understands because he became human through His son, Jesus Christ. (Luke 2:11-12) 

Since God understands human nature firsthand, He also recognizes how crucial it is for His sons and daughters to walk in obedience and accordance with His will.

Proverbs 28:26 in The Message says this,“If you think you know it all, you’re a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from others.”  This truth seems to be misunderstood all too often in our culture today. 

The temptation to “know it all”, as the verse puts it, seems to be the very thing that leads to destruction because we start becoming reliant on our own power, instead of God’s.

On my personal blog, I recently wrote about Habakkuk.  He was a guy who had an understanding of God’s wisdom and there’s so much wisdom he shares with us along the way.  Before we dive in, let me give you a snapshot of what Habakkuk was up against. 

In his time, the people in leadership were evil and destructive.  As a minor prophet, Habakkuk was crying out to God on behalf of the people of Israel.  

Through the season of despair, God gave had the wisdom to see that the battle was never his to fight. The battle was the Lord’s.

As I have been reading the first two chapters of Habakkuk’s story, I get the sense that he is crying out in deep despair to the Lord on behalf of the people of Israel.  Their current situation was far from good.  The people in leadership were evil and destructive. 

“Must I forever see these evil deeds?
    Why must I watch all this misery?
Wherever I look,
    I see destruction and violence.
I am surrounded by people
    who love to argue and fight.
The law has become paralyzed,
    and there is no justice in the courts.
The wicked far outnumber the righteous,
    so that justice has become perverted.” Habakkuk 1:3-4 NLT

Habakkuk was so persistent in voicing his concerns for the people to God that he realized persistence is what God uses to change our perspective.  I’ve found this to be true in my own life.  God-given perseverance can be a powerful weapon against the Enemy.   

I believe that’s what Habakkuk was doing in this prayer.  In addition to crying out to God for help, Habakkuk also recognized he needed to constantly remind himself of God’s faithfulness in the past. 

We must do the same in our own lives. Sometimes the greatest miracles God does aren’t physical.  He delights in making us more like Him and He may allow our walk with Him to give us a Heavenly perspective. 

Today is a new day and our God is one of second chances.  Ask God to give you a Heavenly perspective.  It may not immediately change your circumstances, but it will change how you see your situation.

Sweet Jesus, Thank you for Habakkuk and his perseverance.  Thank You for being a God of second chances.  Open our minds and hearts to see You in the midst of our circumstances and give us Your perspective.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

© 2017 by Andrea Pierce.  All rights reserved.

Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?  Pull up a chair… He’s been waiting for you.

Need a refill?  Please join us at the Encouragement Café with Luann and Friends. 

The conversation at the Café is always hot and fresh.  We invite you to listen inas we gather around the table to discuss everyday life.

Comfort food for your soul is always on our menu, and friends are always close enough to hug.  We invite you to join us daily, as our writer’s share how the Lord continues to transform them into His glorious image.

Still craving more…Join us as we grow together in grace and truth through our online bible study.       

Stop by Encouragement Café and listen as the girls share life. Find podcasts, videos, Bible studies, prayer, resources and daily helpings of hope, laughter and friendship around our table. We've saved a seat just for you!