Tag: What the Bible says about God’s Sovereignty

Habakkuk 1:2 (LSB) 2 How long, O Yahweh, will I call for help, And You will not hear? I cry out to You, “Violence!” Yet You do not save.

If we step back, and we view our walk with God from a distance, we may see that it (our walk with Him) has become a practice of repetition; a series of routines carried out repeatedly each day, each week, and each month.

We didn’t intend for this to happen. In fact, we probably understood before it happened that a relationship based on rituals and repetition is, at best, a weak relationship.

But here we are.

And if we’re honest, we will likely admit that we have in fact become at least slightly mechanical in our relationship with the God who created us.

But God is merciful, and He knows our heart.

He is a God of endless chances, and He wants us to recognize these things so we can make the necessary corrections and adjustments to restore the joy and fervor in our relationship with Him!

And it’s on that note that we will be looking at a “Prayer of Habakkuk”.

We may have heard about the “Prayer of Jabez” at some point in our journey, but never about Habakkuk. There are likely various reasons for this. One of them may involve the simplicity of the prayer of Jabez vs. the intricacies and the nature of Habakkuk’s prayer.

Nonetheless, taking the time to study Habakkuk’s prayer is worthwhile. So, let’s do that.

This will not be a deep dive, so to speak. Think of it as a study that will help us look outside of our normal study routines, with the hopes that it will cause us to ponder some things of God that we are less likely to ponder unless we are encouraged to do so.

As a foundation for this study, we may want to know a little about who Habakkuk was.

Let’s see what we can come up with.

Habakkuk was an Old Testament prophet who penned the book that bears his name.

He is little-known and is one of the 12 “minor prophets”.

As with the most “minor prophets”, there is virtually nothing known about Habakkuk’s personal life or his history. Most of what is known is derived or inferred from the words he penned in the book bearing his name.

We will continue with this study tomorrow!

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443

401-439-3780

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Daniel 2:21 (LSB) 21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding.

It has become very apparent over the years that the recognition and understanding of the absolute sovereignty of God has been lost to most believers.

It is hard to know when this started happening. But it has happened!

It is quite possible that it has truly been happening for centuries; perhaps even from the beginning of time.

This is obvious in the struggles for power that we witness as history repeats itself again and again.

Treachery is nothing new. It has been happening since man was first created and placed on the earth.

But as man has drawn further from God in the last several decades, it is easy to see that there is little to no understanding of God’s absolute power.

Political struggles ensue and seem to take surprising twists and turns. But none of this surprises God or catches Him off guard.

His word teaches us that, just as He is the one who changes the seasons, He is also the One who raises up kings and removes them.

And you might ask why He does this? Why does He allow kings who are evil? Why does He do the things that seem to be so hard for us to understand?

The answer is simple, yet truly profound and mind-numbing; for His glory.

As we see the constant shuffling of global kings and leaders, the seasons of war or famine, seasons of peace and plenty, it gives us the opportunity to see evil at play, and righteousness battling that evil.

It gives us the opportunity to recognize God’s hand at work.

The question is, do we? Do we recognize Him at work in all this seeming chaos?

This is a question we should ponder, and one we should seek answers for.

And those answers can be found in His word; our handbook for life.

He never leaves us without answers or understanding. We must seek it out.

And when we seek Him, we will find Him if we seek Him with all our heart.

Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV) 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443

401-439-3780

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

To have the Bible Verse of The Day delivered to your inbox each day, please Click Here and then enter your email address in the box near the upper left corner of the page. 

Mark 4:39 (NKJV) 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

We don’t often think of the elements and the tangible things of the earth regarding their relationship to or with God.

They are seemingly just there, existing and doing what they were made to do.

But there is abundant evidence in God’s word that even the elements and visible, tangible things of the earth, the waters, and skies are subject to God.

And though they are not “beings” in the way that we may think of them as such, they will give honor and glory to the One who created them in their own ways at God’s command.

Jesus told the Pharisees (in Luke 19:39-41) that if the people did not rejoice and call out to Him as He entered Jerusalem, even the stones would have cried out!

In the verse at the beginning of this devotional, Jesus was accompanying His disciples across the water in a boat. And as they crossed the water, He had fallen asleep. Navigating the boat was the responsibility of the disciples. So, He left them to their task and He rested.

As they traversed the waters, a storm came up and a great wind blew. The word of God says in Mark 4:37 that “the waves were breaking into the boat so that the boat was already filling up” with water.

The disciples became fearful that they were all about to perish, so they quickly woke Jesus, implying verbally that He cared nothing about the fact that they were perishing!

Now, this is where we witness the elements obeying the One who created them.

The word of God does not indicate that there was any great or lengthy discussion between Jesus and the disciples. He simply rose, and He rebuked the wind, saying “Silence! Be still.”

Then the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

The earth, the heavens, and everything in them are subject to God, our Creator.

They must obey Him!

Even as they give Him glory and honor with their beauty, as we discussed in Monday’s devotional, they also must obey Him and honor Him in their submission to His voice.

Isaiah 66:1 (LSB) 1 Thus says Yahweh, “Heaven is My throne, and the earth is the footstool of My feet. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest?

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443

401-439-3780

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

To have the Bible Verse of The Day delivered to your inbox each day, please Click Here and then enter your email address in the box near the upper left corner of the page. 

Psalm 20:6 (NKJV) 6 Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand.

Now I know. With those three words, David is making a statement of faith.

How many know today how God takes care of His people?

How many of us have seen Him move powerfully in our personal lives?

We have seen some things in our own lives that are so powerful, it brings great awe to us even today as we speak of them.

One night, as we were both in a sound sleep, He touched our lips at the exact same time.

When this happened, we both woke up and said, “did you feel that?” We explained to each other the exact same thing and the way it felt when He touched us.

We were in awe. We didn’t fully understand what it meant at that moment, but we were at peace about it as we drifted off to sleep again.

In the morning, we brought it up again and discussed it further.

The same thing; the same touch and the same sensation we had when it touched our lips.

It would be many years before we began to understand what He had done, and why He did it.

Time after time He has shown us His hand in our walk and in our call. We just stand in awe and give Him praise again and again. He is faithful!

We know beyond any doubt that He saves.

He will answer us from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. This applies to anyone who will trust Him and call out to Him.

We encourage you today to call out to Him. Draw near to Him.

He will answer you in the night, in the middle of the day, or in the evening! Amen.

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Genesis 1:2 (NKJV) 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Why did God create the heavens and earth? Why did God form man? What is man’s purpose here?

Why did He create the heavens and earth?

God saw an empty, dark place without form. It was what we would call, nothing. He took it and brought order out of that nothing.

When something is created, it means that it did not previously exist. He turned nothing into something beautiful.

For what purpose? For Himself. It all belongs to Him!

Psalm 24:1 (NKJV) 1 The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.

Why did He create man and woman?

Man was formed in the image of God. He wanted man to resemble Him. And He wanted man to have dominion and handle it correctly, following after Him and all His ways.

Genesis 1:26 (NKJV) 26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

How would we ever resemble Him? If you want to resemble anyone, you would do what they do.

In this situation, we would follow His guidance through His word. Every word in the Bible is God-breathed, bringing instruction in righteousness.

2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV) 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…

If we don’t know what to do, we must ask Him. He will help us find the right answer.

James 1:5 (NKJV) 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

What is man’s purpose on earth? It’s very simple; to love God with all our heart, soul and mind. This is His greatest commandment to us all; our purpose for living.

Matthew 22:37-38 (NKJV) 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment.

Amen.

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Good day, brothers and sisters in Christ! 

God is incredible and miraculous in all His ways 🙏🏻 

We have a new video for you today that we hope you enjoy and are inspired by. 

In this new video, “But With God!”, we teach about God making possible what seems impossible to man. 

May God’s Spirit bring these words to life in you as you watch and listen. 

Please click here to watch the video now.

We love you all.

Sincerely, 

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie 

Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443  

401-439-3780

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

To have the Bible Verse of The Day delivered to your inbox each day, please Click Here and then enter your email address in the box near the upper left corner of the page. 

Psalm 46:10 (NKJV) 10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

The verse above is one that we frequently quote, or hear quoted, to bring peace in turbulent situations or times.

It brings comfort to those who are afflicted.

While recently reading the book of Psalms, something in this passage stood out to me that I had not previously noticed.

In addition to encouraging us to be still, and to trust Him in trying times, God also tells us that He “will be exalted among the nations” and He “will be exalted in the earth!”

This is a statement and a reassurance that should stir up a rousing AMEN in our spirit!

You see, God is not changeable. He is not weak or faint in His promises and His truths.

What He says, stands. What He promises holds true.

So, rest assured that things we witness in the world have not gone unnoticed by Him. He has not turned a blind eye, nor has He failed to hear it.

He is omniscient, and He is omnipotent. He knows all, sees all, hears all, and He has the power to do what needs to be done in the timing that is right as He sees it.

So, let us not be made afraid by what we see and hear. Let us not be troubled, despite wickedness and blasphemous behavior and speech.

He is the Judge before Whom we will all stand.

He will be exalted among the nations. And He will be exalted in the earth!

Rest in knowing that every knee shall bow before Him, and every tongue will confess to Him.

Isaiah 45:23 (NKJV) 23 I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443

401-439-3780

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

To have the Bible Verse of The Day delivered to your inbox each day, please Click Here and then enter your email address in the box near the upper left corner of the page. 

As a practice, we normally begin our devotionals with a scripture or group of scriptures.

Today we are changing it up.

There are times when we need a reminder of who this God is that we serve and give honor to.

We need encouragement in the fact that He is mighty and sovereign beyond all our imaginations.

Our minds need to be put at ease from time to time as we face various obstacles, some of which may seem insurmountable to our natural minds.

With that said, we would like to share a passage from the book of Job that serves as an enormous reminder of the might of God, whom we surrender ourselves to in faith, trusting Him with our lives, even into eternity.

Please read and reflect on these verses, and rest in Him. The One who holds everything we see in His hands.

Job 9:4-13 (NKJV)

4 God is wise in heart and mighty in strength.
Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?

5 He removes the mountains, and they do not know
When He overturns them in His anger;

6 He shakes the earth out of its place,
And its pillars tremble;

7 He commands the sun, and it does not rise;
He seals off the stars;

8 He alone spreads out the heavens,
And treads on the waves of the sea;

9 He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades,
And the chambers of the south;

10 He does great things past finding out,
Yes, wonders without number.

11 If He goes by me, I do not see Him;
If He moves past, I do not perceive Him;

12 If He takes away, who can hinder Him?
Who can say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’

13 God will not withdraw His anger,
The allies of the proud lie prostrate beneath Him.

Rest in knowing who He is. Trust Him with your situation. Seek Him in all things.

For He does not change.

Malachi 3:6 (NKJV) 6 “For I am the Lord, I do not change…

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443

401-439-3780

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

To have the Bible Verse of The Day delivered to your inbox each day, please Click Here and then enter your email address in the box near the upper left corner of the page.