While spending time with God, I began to reflect on the approaching New Year, which is just around the corner. Several thoughts filled my mind: the excitement of a new year, New Year’s resolutions, and new beginnings. As I contemplated these ideas, the Lord impressed upon me to take action.
He guided me to find a new, unused journal. Once I had it in hand, He prompted me to write down my resolutions for the ministry for the upcoming year. He directed me to Habakkuk 2 as the foundation for this instruction.
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. (Hab 2:2-4)
We are all familiar with this verse. I can’t count how many times I’ve heard it taught or how many times I’ve written about this subject. Yet, despite the many times I’ve read this scripture, I had not connected certain ideas until now.
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 lesson often ends with that.
Today, something else jumped out at me.
The scripture goes on to say…but the just shall live by his faith.
I suddenly recognized from this scripture that writing down our vision is closely connected to living by faith. Could it be that part of living by faith includes drafting our vision and making it clear?
It takes faith to articulate a vision and trust that God will bring it to fruition. Similarly, it requires faith to establish resolutions for the new year. A New Year’s resolution is a promise you make to yourself to achieve something in the coming year. As believers, we should first seek God’s guidance regarding what He has in store for us in the upcoming year. Our vision originates from God and His Word. Once we receive our vision from Him, we must write it down and make it plain.
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. (this is the authority for that vision) 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 was amazing to watch. Even things that seemed impossible. I have watched them come to pass. I can tell you it is a real faith builder.
And it is linked with the just living by faith. I just love that!
The just living by faith simply means…we live and breathe God’s Word, fully persuaded that He will do what He says He will do. We are fully convinced of His Word and the truth of it. We know that what He has promised, He will do.
There is another place in the bible where we find this exact 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. (Heb 10:35-38)
For me, and I hope for you, this pulls it all together.
We write the vision and make it plain. Knowing it will come to pass. In this scripture, we see that we have a need of endurance. Once we write the vision, we must have patience. We must continue doing what the Word of God says. Knowing when we do, we will receive the promise.
Our part? Believe God and refuse to draw back.
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.
Along with writing our vision and being confident of God’s promise, our words also play a vital part in seeing our vision come to pass.
It’s time to take a moment and write your vision for the new year ahead.
Write the vision. Make it plain. Have confidence that God will do what He has promised. Continue to do the will of God. Live by faith and refuse to draw back. Refuse to stop saying what God says. Continually confess His Word over your vision list. As we do this, He will fulfill His Word. He will not tarry. It will surely come to pass. Just as He has said.
