~Daily Devotion 18th~

Habakkuk 2: 1 - 4

"I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me. and what I will answer when I am corrected. then the Lord answered me and said, " Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith."

Have you ever had a dream that God has given you? Have you prepared, waited, been tested, tried, and as they say, "been through?"

I want you to know that God never gives a work to someone He feels cannot handle the job, but He gives the work to someone He knows has been through the fire and came out not even smelling like smoke.

The above verses tell us that when you have a desire in your heart to write the vision down, and in God's time it will come to pass, and when the time is right, it will not tarry, but come fast.

Before God can entrust you with a work to do for Him, He requires that we make our relationship with Him our highest priority, that we bring our deepest questions and turmoil's before Him, expecting His answers and guidance. God knows that this is a must to be able to do the work of His Ministry.

This is the reason we must set aside a regular time and place that is holy to the Lord. Spend time listening for His word as you read, study, and meditate on Scripture. Be faithful in daily prayer. If you do not make this a priority in your life, then how will you be able to lead others?

See, God says for you to write down your vision and dreams. He also says that you must have a relationship with Him that is above all other. Why? Because when you began the work He has for you, you must be able of hear and document those things the Lord speaks to you or quickens to your heart. God must be able to make alive to you His promises and His direction, and the only way He can do this is when you have a committed relationship with Him.

Now you asked, how do I start? First examine yourself! Ask the question, "Is there anything in my life that hinders my obedience to God?' Is there anything in my life that keeps me from making my relationship my highest priority? Then come to God and lay everything on the altar and take down any idol in your life by humbling yourself before God and by refusing other interest to rule your heart. Once you have done this you will be ready for God to use you.

If you cannot do this then you will never succeed in what God has for you to accomplish for Him. You must get your eyes off of personal fame and glory, and set your eyes on what God has for you to do.

See, the worldly theory of success that centers on personal power is a highly deceptive trap. the wise person defines success in the light of God's plan for his life. Living in a manner that honors

God and relies on His promises, brings success. You cannot get success by yourself. You cannot make it happen for yourself, but God can make it happen once He knows your priority in life is a true relationship with Him, and not reaching for the prize yourself without His guiding hand.

Know that success by the world's measure is a vain pursuit. Build your house--your life and vocation--on the rock of God's Word.

Plan your life by the wisdom of God. Be a success in Him, for any other way is vain and will lead to failure.