On the Jewish Calendar, we just entered a New Year. 5782.
A new year is a great time to visit our dreams and visions – and make a plan for the upcoming year. By a plan I mean to sit down and write out some things we want to stand in faith for over the next few months – this is what was on my mind as we entered into 5782.
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. Habakkuk 2:2-4
We are all familiar with this verse. Yet, as I was reading it, something new caught my attention – not new to God – but something I had not noticed before.
It is commonly taught with verses 2,3…Write the vision, make it plain, that he may run who reads it. And although it is for an appointed time, it will come…so wait for it. The quote often ends with that.
Today, I continued to read.
The scripture goes on to say…but the just shall live by his faith.
It takes faith to write out a vision and expect God to bring it to pass.
We write it down…so it can take flight. For many years God has had me write my vision for the coming year. Most often in a journal. Or even on a vision board. I go back to it from time to time. I use it in my prayer time. I find scriptures to base my vision list on. I pray the scripture over my vision until I see it come to pass.
Over the years, I have watched God bring my vision list to pass time after time. It has been amazing to watch. Even things that seemed impossible. It has been a real faith booster to me.
While it is a good thing to have a point of contact for prayer – it is also a must to walk by faith concerning it.
The just living by faith simply means…we are fully persuaded that He will do what He says He will do. We are fully convinced of His Word and the truth of it.
There is another place in the bible we find this same phrase, the just shall live by his faith.
Therefore, do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. Hebrews 10:35-38
This pulls it altogether, don’t you think?
We write the vision and make it plain. Then we absolutely refuse to draw back. Like Abraham we hope against hope if necessary.
To draw back is defined as; let down, to withdraw, to be timid, shrink, of those who from timidity hesitate to avow what they believe, to be unwilling or afraid to utter, to shrink from declaring.
It’s not always easy to continue believing when chaos is all around. I get that. For this reason, we must purpose to keep our eyes and our mind on God. And we must be very careful what goes in our ears and eyes. What we feed on will grow. If we feed on the Word of God and keep His promise before our eyes, our faith will grow, coincidently we will see His promise come to pass. If we keep the news media and all things negative before our eyes – that too will grow. When that happens, we often let go of our promises.
I encourage you today – take some time – think about your dreams, your vision for this new year and write it down. Once you do, expect it to come to pass and refuse to draw back. Instead press into all God has for you. It’s going to be a great year in God – let’s enter in.
Appoint My Days
Because my delight is in the law of the Lord, and I mediate on it day and night, I will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth fruit in its season, whose leaves will not wither and whatever I do will prosper.
Psalm 1:2,3, Joshua 1:8
