Write down the vision

"Then the LORD answered me and said:
Write down the vision;
Make it plain upon tablets,
so that the one who reads it may run.
For the vision is a witness for the appointed time,
a testimony to the end; it will not disappoint.
If it delays, wait for it,
it will surely come, it will not be late."  (Habakkuk 2: 2-3)

The Prophet Habakkuk questioned God about his governance and providence in the world.  My understanding today of God's answer to Habakkuk is paraphrased thus:

• I have a plan, a good plan.  Trust in the plan.

Considering that God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts, I am prepared to accept His word and trust Him.

The man who trusts in the Lord fears no bad news

"It is good for the man gracious in lending,
who conducts his affairs with justice.
For he shall never be shaken;
the righteous shall be remembered forever.
He shall not fear an ill report;
his heart is steadfast, trusting the LORD.
His heart is tranquil, without fear,
till at last he looks down on his foes."  (Psalm 112: 5 - 8)

The man who is gracious and lends to those in need, who conducts his business with justice shall fear no bad news.  God promises that would not fear:

• Doctor's bad report
• Stock market implosion
• Family upheavals
•  and more..

There is no end to the list of things that can instill fears into the heart of the man who places his trust in anything but God.  Trusting in God means trusting in His perfect love for you.  Awareness of this perfect love drives out fears.  You realize that nothing can separate you from this love.  Trust is the antidote to fear.

Create in me a pure and clean heart

"A clean heart create for me, God;
renew within me a steadfast spirit."  (Psalm 51: 12 NABR)

Unless the Lord builds the house, we labor in vain if we build it. (Psalm 127:1)  Unless the Lord creates for us and in us a pure and clean heart, we labor in vain to create it.

A steadfast and persevering spirit is also a great gift of God.  Without it, we cannot be saved.  In the kingdom, if you start a house, you must finish it.  If you start a race, you must complete it.

I have loved you with an everlasting love

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you." (Jeremiah 31: 3 NIV)

Father, I delight in your statement of everlasting love and mercy for me.  This is sweet music to my ears.  Help me to remember this always.  Help me also to respond to love with love.  I ask for this in the name of Jesus your Son.  Amen.

But when he saw how strong the wind was he became afraid

"He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how [strong] the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!"  (Matthew 14: 29 - 30)

But when Peter how strong the wind was he became frightened.
Consider things that tend to frighten us and diminish our faith:

But when he saw the doctor's report he became frightened.
But when he saw the bank statement...
But when he saw the weather report...
But when he saw the poll numbers...
But when he saw the pink slip...
But when he saw the statistics...

Peter took his eyes off Jesus.  Whenever this happens in our lives, we begin to sink into fear.  Peter wisely and providentially applies the antidote to fear which is prayer.  "Lord, save me."

"Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4: 6 - 7)

I will test them to see if they will follow my instructions

"Then the LORD said to Moses: I am going to rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion; thus will I test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not."  (Exodus 16: 4)

Depending on God and trusting in Him to supply our daily bread one day at a time is a great test of faith.  Yet, the ultimate proof that God is able and willing to do this is the Eucharist itself.  The Eucharist is the Bread of life.  It is the Flesh and Blood of Jesus Christ provided daily for our consumption.  It is the fulfillment of the Covenant of peace and mercy that Jesus Christ instituted the night before He died.

• The Eucharist is a profound mystery.
• It is the medicine of immortality.
• The Eucharist is the antidote for death.
• It is the pledge and sign of the great hope of our resurrection.

If God can give us freely the Eucharist, what else can He not provide for us?  He who did not spare His Son to prove His love for us cannot deny us anything that is good for us.

Man does not live by bread alone

"He said in reply, “It is written:
‘One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’”

Bread alone cannot satisfy the hunger of man for more life.
God who created man in His image and likeness knows what man needs to satisfy this hunger.  The answer for man's hunger for more is the Eucharist.  It is not more money or more family or more health or more job or more food or more length of days on earth.

The Eucharist is a profound mystery.
It is the medicine of immortality.
The Eucharist is the antidote for death.
It is the pledge and sign of the great hope of our resurrection.

God always hears the cry of the poor

"But here I am miserable and in pain;
let your saving help protect me, God,
*That I may praise God’s name in song
and glorify it with thanksgiving.
That will please the LORD more than oxen,
more than bulls with horns and hooves:
“See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, take heart!" (Psalm 69: 30 - 33)

God always hears the cry of the poor. Trust Him always and everywhere.

Put no trust in princes; they have no power to save you.

"Put no trust in princes,
in children of Adam powerless to save." (Psalm 146: 3)

In whom do you put your trust?

"God indeed is my salvation;
I am confident and unafraid.
For the LORD is my strength and my might,
and he has been my salvation.
With joy you will draw water
from the fountains of salvation" (Isaiah 12: 2 - 3)

Do you repose your trust in good health, family, money, good job, your property and tools or your bright future?

"Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never forsake you or abandon you.
Thus we may say with confidence:
“The Lord is my helper,
[and] I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?"  (Hebrews 13: 5 - 6)

I am being initiated into the mystery of peace and contentment

"I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need."  (Philippians 4: 12)

Peace and contentment do not depend on circumstances.  No, they do not depend on money, good health, great family, good job, nice home and tools.  Peace and contentment depend on what Jesus, our hope of glory is doing inside us here and now.  Where Jesus abides, there abide peace and contentment.

Jesus is the direct and efficient cause of peace and contentment in the heart.  Any other presumed cause or agent is there to exploit our weakness and insecurity.


"I say to the LORD,
you are my Lord,
you are my only good.
They multiply their sorrows
who court other gods.
Blood libations to them I will not pour out,
nor will I take their names upon my lips."  (Psalm 16: 2, 4)


"Let the peace of Christ control your hearts. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly."  (Colossians 3: 15, 16)

When he finds a pearl of great price...

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it." (Matthew 13: 45 - 46)

Jesus Christ is the Pearl of great price.  What must we sell in order to acquire in the fullest sense this priceless treasure?

"And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life."  (Matthew 19: 29)

What is our response to the above challenge?

"LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you have made my destiny secure.
*Pleasant places were measured out for me;
fair to me indeed is my inheritance."  (Psalm 16: 5 - 6)

In the Name of Jesus

"that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father."  (Philippians 2: 10-11)

Jesus means Savior.  The name says what it is and it does what it says.  The Savior has absolute power to save man from sin and from every distress.  The name of Jesus puts Satan to flight.  It is the most potent one word prayer:  Jesus!  The power of the Jesus Prayer has been universally recognized.  It has the power of the sacramental.

Jesus!  Amen!

The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

"The eyes of all look hopefully to you;
you give them their food in due season.
You open wide your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing."  (Psalm 145: 15 - 16)

The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs. 
Lord Jesus, grant me deep faith in the above truth.  May I never doubt your willingness and power to provide me with everything that I need.

My home is by your altars

"As the sparrow finds a home
and the swallow a nest to settle her young,
My home is by your altars,
LORD of hosts, my king and my God!
Blessed are those who dwell in your house!
They never cease to praise you.
Blessed the man who finds refuge in you,
in their hearts are pilgrim roads."  (Psalm 84: 4-6)

Thank you Jesus for the access to your Sanctuary.

"God indeed is my salvation;
I am confident and unafraid.
For the LORD is my strength and my might,
and he has been my salvation.
With joy you will draw water
from the fountains of salvation" (Isaiah 12: 2-3)

The seed sown on rich soil yields rich harvest

"But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold."  (Matthew 13: 23)

• Understand what you hear and read.
• Believe what you read.
• Teach what you believe.
• Practice what you teach.

"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."  (John 13: 17)
Change happens not because of what you know but because of what you do daily.

"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."  (John 13: 17)

Change happens not because of what you know but because of what you do daily.

I chose you to go and bear fruit that will last

"It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you."  (John 15: 16)


"I will bear a witness to you in the world, O Lord.  I will spread the knowledge of your name among my brothers, alleluia!"  (Psalm 17: 50; 21: 23)

"So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help." (Hebrews 4: 16)

"So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help."  (Hebrews 4: 16)

Who can be confident to approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace at a time of dire need?  The Psalmist in answer to this says that it is the man whose heart is pure and whose hands are clean.  I am lost for I do not feel that my heart is pure and that my hand is clean.  What shall I do because I am desperately in need of favor from God?  Then the Spirit whispered to me:  Take courage!  Come along and approach the throne of grace through Jesus Christ in faith and you shall receive the mercy and favor that you seek.  The righteousness of Jesus covers my impurity and my uncleanness.  Thank you Jesus.

The Holy Spirit helps us to remember what God is doing in our lives

"He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful.  He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant for ever."  (Psalm 111: 4 - 5) 

The Holy Spirit causes us to remember God's wonderful deeds in our lives.  When I welcomed this amazing truth into my heart many years ago, it changed how I looked at memory.  Remember is an active verb that we find all over scripture.  The act of remembering is critical in forming a loving relationship with God.  If we do not remember what God does for us, we may either give the credit to some other cause or not at all.  Because God wants us to give Him the credit for his wondrous works in our lives, He causes us to remember His deeds.  The Holy Spirit helps us to remember these deeds.  For me, this is one of most beautiful works of the Holy Spirit in my heart.  Thank you O Holy Spirit.

There is no God

"In their insolence the wicked boast:
“God does not care; there is no God."  (Psalm 10: 4)

The above scripture captures the attitude of the human heart a couple of thousands of years ago.  Is this different from the attitude of many today?  Not at all.  What causes man to turn his back on God and say in his heart, "There is no God?"

God created man in his image and likeness.  That means, God stamped man with His own DNS at creation.  But God created man with a free will.  Man is free to accept or reject God's loving initiatives in his life.  When man accepts God's love, the life of God in him grows.  But when man rejects God's love, the rejection weakens and diminishes the divine center and influence in his life.  This diminution of the divine in him may come to a point of extinction when man says in his heart, "There is no God?"

"Blessed is the man who does not walk
in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the way of sinners,
nor sit in company with scoffers.
Rather, the law of the LORD is his joy;
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
planted near streams of water,
that yields its fruit in season;
Its leaves never wither;
whatever he does prospers."  (Psalm 1: 1 - 3)