We have many gifted, prophetic people in our spheres of influence. Our inbox stays full of requests to look at certain societal issues, dreams, prophetic words and personal revelations. The first thing we do is read the information from a nonpartisan perspective. This means that we do not make a judgment call based on the revelation presented. We must remain objective. We assess the situation and seek the Lord’s counsel for what has been revealed. If we do not get a reply from the Lord, we do not move on the issue. We file it away in the memory bank and wait for the opportune time to address it.
All too often we find that intercessors see a problem and react to the immediate need without gaining the Lord’s timing and strategy to address the issue. We must learn that God loves order. What you are seeing is not a shock to Him. He is revealing an issue, so you can dive into the preparation to succeed in the battle at hand. Chances are He is speaking to others in the body of Christ to take up arms in the battle as well.
Just like many of us who are called to a life of intercession, the prophet Habakkuk had a burden for what he was seeing in his land. He cried out to the Lord:
“O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Or cry to You, ‘Violence!’ and You will not save? Why do You make me see wickedness, and cause me to see trouble? Plundering and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. Therefore the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore injustice proceeds” (Hab. 1:2-4).
The Lord responded to Habakkuk’s vision by telling him to stand back and watch the nations. God had a bigger plan than what Habakkuk saw. The Lord began to reveal repositioning of the nations in the days ahead. The prophet was put in a season of observation, not action. Obviously, this frustrated Habakkuk.
The burden of the vision was more than the prophet could handle. Habakkuk still pursued the Lord through supplication to take care of this very evident problem in the land despite the instruction of the Lord requesting him to sit back and watch the plan unfold. The prophet even had data about the kingdom infractions that were taking place. He presented his case to the Lord. He pleaded for a just ruling to take place concerning the wicked Chaldeans who were ensnaring the people under the leadership of their wicked government. The cry of Habakkuk’s heart consumed his thoughts, prayers and research.
After presenting the case, Habakkuk made the statement, “I will stand my watch and station myself on the watchtower; and I will keep watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am reproved” (Hab. 2:1). Apparently, the prophet knew that his perspective was not accurate. He waited for the Lord to correct his view, finetune his perspective and give him a strategy to deal with the issue. The story continues when the Lord answered Habakkuk and said:
“Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he who reads it may run. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but it speaks of an end, and does not lie. If it delays, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay” (Hab. 2:2-3).
The following verses in that chapter reveal God’s plan of action and judgment in the situation. Habakkuk wrote down the vision, the plan, the strategy for the prayer assignment and revealed the word to address the issue. The judgment was decreed through the word of the prophet. The problem, kingdom violations, plan of action and prophecy were declared because Habakkuk wrote the vision and made it plain. Had he not done this, the kingdom of Judah would not have known the Lord’s plan to deal with the Chaldeans, or Babylonians.
Just as Habakkuk did with what the Lord had shown him, we need to begin asking questions regarding the actions that are to be taken once a potential assignment is presented. Let us gain the Lord’s perspective. May we see as He sees!
Listen to this episode of Occupying Force on Charisma Podcast Network to learn how to gain God’s perspective.
Want to learn more? Check out Preparing for Battle: Developing the Lifestyle of a Victorious Prayer Warrior by Kimberly J. & Richard C. Wilson.
Originally written for Charisma Magazine. Click here to read.
