Sunday Words of Encouragement November 25, 2018

We had a good morning at church with Sunday School and Service. SS covered 1 Corinthians Chapter 5. Paul was addressing the church leadership for failing to handle a local problem of sin. The church has to be careful that it doesn’t begin to reflect the world instead of being distinctly different.

We started service with lovely praise and worship. Our Youth Pastor gave the sermon message titled Unexpected Answers based on the prayers of Habakkuk. Habakkuk lamented and whined: “How long, Lord, must I call for help but you do not listen?” He was praying with complaints that the world around him was full of violence and wickedness. Habakkuk 1:2-4.
God replied: “Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” Habakkuk 1:5.
God’s answer basically says: I am present. I know what is going on and I am in control.
We can be assured that God is Always in control, in every season of life.

We get so many blessings, provision, protection, healing, deliverance. And we get the awesome right to pray even though the answer isn't always what we expect. We think we know what we need but God sees a bigger picture.

Often we get focused on wanting an answer from God rather than focusing on God's presence. The scriptures tell us to ‘Seek Him’ and the reset will come. We need to pray for His presence and then recognize that He is in control.

Habakkuk's complaint turns into a song in Chapter 3:3-6.
Although these other verses were not mentioned specifically, I have four verses highlighted in my Bible: Habakkuk 1:5 (above); Habakkuk 2:4, 20 and 3:18 (shown below the video).

I had a couple songs on God is in Control and chose this video for today.

Verses for Today:
Habakkuk (NIV)
Habakkuk 2:4
“See, the enemy is puffed up;
his desires are not upright—
but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness—”
Habakkuk 2:20
The Lord is in his holy temple;
let all the earth be silent before him.
Habakkuk 3:18
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Lord, I pray that You would help me to seek Your Presence and allow that to be the right answer for me.