we are not doing nothing as we wait (GOD is never late)

We are not doing nothing as we wait on the Lord.
We are doing much!

I was preparing for prayer school two weeks ago on praying out the plans and purposes that God has for your life, according to Philippians 1:9-11, when i read the blog of one of the girls i meet up regularly for Bible Study. She highlighted Habukkuk 2:3, and the version of the bible she used sparked off something in my spirit (i could not ascertain what version), and I KNEW there was something there that God wanted me to highlight in prayer school.

Habakkuk 2:3
"But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vison will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!"

Slow, steadily, surely (haha! the literature teacher in me surely appreciated the alliteration which is for the purpose of emphasis!) the vision that God has given WILL be fulfilled. There's no doubt about it.

The above, as well as the notes i made in the margin of my bible in the past, helped me see certain things clearly.

Habakkuk 2:1-3 shows us so vividly that we are not supposed to run ahead of God. Even when He has shown us glimpses of what is ahead for us, we need to continue to wait to hear from Him the next steps to take.

Habakkuk 2:1 (AMP)
[OH, I know, I have been rash to talk out plainly this way to God!] I will [in my thinking] stand upon my post of observation and station myself on the tower or fortress, and will watch to see what He will say within me and what answer I will make [as His mouthpiece] to the perplexities of my complaint against Him.

This season of waiting is a precious one, certainly not a waste of time at all! We are to stay or stand in the place that God has placed us until He tells us to move. Many plans have surely been short-circuited when we run ahead in impatience and overenthusiasm. Yes being full of passion is good but not when this excess passion blurs our vision!
This place on a rampart (NKJV and NIV) or post of observation (AMP) or watchpost (ESV) or watchtower (CEV) or bulwark (YLT) suggests a high place of defense where one can see what is going on and what is to come. It is a fortified place of strength, support and protection!

We are in that high place in the spiritual realm.

Ephesians 2:6 (AMP)
And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

When we stay, it's in that high place.
When we watch, it's from that position in Christ.
When we pray, it's with authority that Jesus has given us, not by anything we have done to deserve. It's freely given so that we have an audience with God! God hears us!

In fact, He speaks to us.
So we watch what He will say in us, in our spirit. He shows us things to come, warns us of events, situations - IN our spirit. There will be corrections made in us as we speak to Him our 'complaints'. He begins to show us the adjustments we need. On our part, we receive (we says yes, Lord. We follow Your will and Your way. We do what Your Word says) the adjustments as these will strengthen and establish us for the days ahead when the plans come into fruition. If we stay where we are, refusing to make any changes, how will we be prepared for His greater plans ahead??!!

So we stay, and watch, and receive. We begin to speak what He speaks as His mouthpiece, as His oracle.
So when we wait, and it seems that there is nothing happening, in reality, MUCH is taking place!

1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

We begin to speak what He shows us.

Habakkuk 2:2
And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may [be able to] read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by.

His plans becomes clear in us that we can write it down and make it clear to others us well. This is a process. It will take time. We often jump on the easily and quickly, the hastening. But here the writing of the vision takes time. The script (or writer) had to expend energy, effort and time to ENGRAVE the vision on STONE tablets. This is a tedious process. But God will not be delayed. He will never be late.

Habukkuk2:3
For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day.

There are appointed times for His plans - dreams and visions - to be fulfilled.

I used to be puzzled by the apparent contradiction or conflict: "though it tarry", indicating that it will be delayed, "it will not be behindhand". Then i realize that it seems to us late or slow in coming, but it is not. GOD is laying the foundation for the plan to be fulfilled!!

Amazing!