Prayers2Persevere

“I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the Lord says and how he will answer my complaint. Then the Lord said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.”

‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We’ve been taught from an early age to have a vision for our lives. Asked as early as kindergarten what you want to be when you grow up. Or drafting a five-year vision plan for your life in your early twenties. Even job interviews ask you the question of where you see yourself at the company in the next 5 to 10 years. 

For much of my life, I sought my own vision for myself and made my own plans. At some point, I got to the end of what I thought was possible for myself and developed a pattern of doing things that weren’t producing fruit or drawing me closer to God. With no sense of peace, fulfillment, or contentment, my plans then brought on a loss of identity. Frustrations grew from self-reliance and pride, thinking I had to do it all in my own strength or that I had to prove people wrong. My plans produced restlessness and worry because my vision was limited. I could only see so far. Confusion was brought on by distraction, delay, complacency, and so on. I had nothing more, and so I brought my concerns to God.

Allowing God to breathe into my vision and bring it into alignment with His will allowed me to see and do things I never thought were possible. Not only that, but it also allowed me to experience God as the matchless, limitless Creator of the Universe. 

I heard a preacher once say: Vision without submission becomes a monument to yourself. The last thing I want are any idols in my life vying for God’s rightful place or pushing me further from what God called me to do. In my pursuit of asking God for help in developing a vision for my life, He led me to His Word to illustrate what He desires.

My study of Habakkuk chapters 1 and 2 helped me to unpack some lessons on seeking God for vision. He gave me fresh perspective of the well-known verse, “write the vision and make it plain” (2:2 KJV), often preached as a warning to believers who lack vision. But, within the text lies much more than a command but instruction on how to diligently seek God for vision.

1. Recognize that God can handle your questions and complaints. Come boldly before Him. Be honest with God just like we see in Habakkuk’s complaint. “How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save. 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 ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬ 
2. Be patient. Wait for God to speak. And wait with great expectation. “I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the Lord says and how he will answer my complaint.”Habakkuk‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬ 
3. Identify your watchtower. Are you in God’s presence regularly? Where is your watchtower? This could be your prayer closet, your dedicated time to fellowship with God in an intimate setting, void of distractions. 
4. When God speaks, record what He says. Journaling is a good practice. This is an example of obedience and allows you to keep record of what God says and go back to it when it happens. It’s also evidence for others to know that what God has said is final. “Then the Lord said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others.” Habakkuk‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬
5. Vision comes with details and divine timing. When God gives you the vision, it must come to pass. It’s valid. If it’s unclear, keep asking for clarity and understanding. This was the second time Habakkuk came seeking God. “This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled.” Habakkuk‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬. Trust that what God has spoken will happen and will not fail. Look for evidence in your life or in the Word for God’s track record. The moments when His promises were fulfilled.
6. Don’t allow the delays to frustrate or deter you. Don’t question the vision. Discern and trust that what you heard was from God. “If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” Habakkuk‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬ 
7. Remain faithful to God. Keep relentlessly pursuing Him. “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.” Habakkuk‬ ‭2‬:‭4 ‭NLT‬‬ 
8. Trust Him. Keep the proper perspective. See every step in the journey as an opportunity for growth. Ask God what you’re supposed to learn. 

It’s important that we seek God for vision and alignment. Vision is necessary to keep us motivated and to stand on our faith that God will do exactly what He said He would. This is why developing a relationship with God is crucial. When you partner with God to write your vision, you must keep going back to Him to see what’s next. This expands your reliance on God and increases your communication with Him. We go back to Him instead of back to the drawing board when we truly trust Him to give us vision. 

You may be in a season where the vision you had is starting to look a little blurry because things have turned upside down or are not going your way. The unexpected became a reality and now you feel stuck or backed into a corner. These are the times we need God the most. I believe these lessons from Habakkuk will teach us how to seek God for fresh vision so we can have proper perspective for what He wants to do in our lives.