“I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will look forth to see what He will speak with me, and what I shall answer concerning my complaint” (Habakkuk 2:1)

James wrote saying: “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry” (James 1:19). In any state of despair or anxiety, it’s quite easy to rush decisions. Practicing ‘the pause’ does good. When a complaining Habakkuk would decide to pause and hear God speak (and God did), he went from being cranky to being in awe of God: “O LORD, I have heard of what you have done, and I am filled with awe. Now do again in our times the great deeds you used to do. Be merciful, even when you are angry. God is coming again…” (Habakkuk 3:2). Habakkuk saw God differently and correctly.

David often practiced the pause. In the 54th psalm, he sang desperately: “God, deliver me by Your mighty name! Come with your glorious power and save me! Listen to my prayer; turn your ears to my cry! These violent men have risen up against me, heartless, ruthless men...” When he paused, then he sang: “But the Lord God has become my divine helper. He leans into my heart and lays His hands upon me! God will see to it that those who sow evil will reap evil. So Lord, in your great faithfulness, destroy them once and for all!”

Maybe right now, we too need to pause, then think and surely we will thank. Can we practice the pause? We’ll surely say: “I will still be joyful and glad, because the LORD God is my Saviour” (Habakkuk 3:18).

#goodmorning 🌷

BeEncouraged❤️ Freely received. Freely shared