“Although the fig tree shall  not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be  cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls” (18)  Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” – Habakkuk 3:17-18

Every time I think about Daniel Webster (1782-1852), I’m reminded of the story about a woodchuck that helped himself to the vegetables in their father’s garden. Ezekiel Webster, Daniel’s brother, set a trap and caught the woodchuck, and said, “Now we’ll kill the thief. You’ve done mischief enough to die Mr. Woodchuck, and you shall die.”

Young Daniel Webster pleaded with his brother for the woodchuck’s immediate release. The case was brought before the father, who agreed to act as judge. Ezekiel presented the vicious habits of the prisoner, the damage already done to the garden, the value of his skin, and reasons why the woodchuck ought to die. Daniel pleaded that the woodchuck was  one of the creatures of God, not particularly vicious, having a right to food, life, and liberty. He urged against the cruelty of taking the life of the helpless creature. The plea moved the father, and he cried, “Zeke, Zeke, let the woodchuck go!”

This was Daniel Webster’s first case, won when he was only 10 years old. He would later grow up to become a lawyer, Senator and American statesman.

Daniel Webster used to meet with his friends regularly to discuss literature written throughout the ages. He once remarked to his friends that the words in Habakkuk 3:17-18, were the most beautiful words ever  written in literature; 

“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail,  and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the  fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

Read these words again. Only this time, insert your own name.

“Although MY fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold,  and there shall be no herd in the stalls. Yet I will rejoice in the  Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

The Hebrew word used for “rejoice,” in verse 18 is alaz  (aw-laz’), which is interchangeable with the words, triumph &  joyful. The Lord wants us to rejoice in our adversity. When difficult trials and sufferings come it is very hard to rejoice and find triumph or joy in them. Today, if you find yourself in a place where nothing seems to be going well and you see no hope of relief, remember, Habakkuk 3:17-18 instructs us in times like these to do two things; (1) Rejoice in the Lord , (2) Joy in the God of your Salvation.

If you’re in a place where you need restoration in your life, seek the Lord for that restoration; that is what He does. He is the Restorer. He will deliver us in His chosen time.

BE ATTENTIVE TO MY WORDS  

"My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. "  

- Proverbs 4:20-22

MEDIATATE ON IT DAY AND NIGHT

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

- Joshua 1:8

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"For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. - James 3:16

WHO CAN STAND BEFORE JEALOUSY?  

“Wrath is fierce, and anger is a flood, but who can stand before jealousy?”  

- Proverbs 27:4

WHEN THERE ARE JEALOUSIES  

“When there are dissensions, and jealousies, and evil speakings among professors of religion, then there is great need of a revival. These things show that Christians have got far from God, and it is time to think earnestly of a revival.”   

– Charles G. Finney (1792-1875) (1792-1875) American Presbyterian Minister

DO NOT LET YOUR HEART ENVY SINNERS  

“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”  

- Proverbs 23:17-18

THE FOUNDATION OF HUMAN JEALOUSY

"Self-love is, no doubt, the usual foundation of human jealousy...the fear lest another should by any means supplant us."

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher 

WHERE THERE IS JEALOUSY AND STRIFE

"For you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? "

- 1 Corinthians 3:3

THE LORD IS JEALOUS AND AVENGING GOD

"The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. 

- Nahum 1:2

BECOMING JEALOUS AND EMBITTERED

"If someone is leaving you behind, and you are becoming jealous and embittered, keep praying that he may have success in the very matter where he is awakening your envy; and whether he is helped or not, one thing is sure, that your own soul will be cleansed and ennobled. 

- William Law (1686-1761) Church of England Cleric

DEATH AND DESTRUCTION ARE NEVER SATISFIED   

“Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are human eyes.”  

- Proverbs 27:20

NOT IN QUARRELING AND JEALOUSY

"Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. "

- Romans 13:13

FOR EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD  

“For everything in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–comes not from the Father but from the world.”  

- 1 John 2:16

SET YOUR MINDS ON THINGS ABOVE 

 
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” 

- Colossians 3:2 

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"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit." - Ephesians 1:13

SEALED UNTO THE DAY OF REDEMPTION 

"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."

- Ephesians 4:30

SEALED UNTO THE END OF TIME

He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end."

- Daniel 12:9

UNTIL WE HAVE SEALED THE SERVANTS OF OUR GOD  

Saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”

- Revelation 7:3

SHUT IT AND SEALED IT OVER HIM

"And threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while."

- Revelation 20:3

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GOD USES BROKEN THINGS

"God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume. It is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever."

- Vance Havner (1901-1986) American Country Preacher

ONLY ONE WAY TO HEALED FROM BACKSLIDING

"There is only one way to be revived and healed from our backslidings so that we may become fruitful even in old age. We must take a steady look at the glory of Christ in His special character, in His grace and work, as shown to us in the Scripture."

- John Owen (1616-1683) English Nonconformist Church Leader

THE CAUSES OF BACKSLIDING

"The causes of backsliding are many. We have pretended to be living a more devoted life than was actually the case; we neglected to watch unto prayer; we allowed secret sin to eat out the heart of our piety…or we yielded to temptation…or we yielded to the fear of man, and drifted with the multitude to do evil; or we became prosperous, and trusted only in our wealth; or poor, and succumbed to covetousness and the bitterness of despair."

- F. B. Meyer (1847-1929) Baptist Pastor and Evangelist

YOU CANNOT WALK WITH HIM IN REBELLION

"Whenever you make up your mind to refuse to go where God wants you to go and to do what God wants you to do, you must make up your mind at the same time to renounce the friendship of God. You cannot walk with Him and at the same time be in rebellion against Him. God has no possible way of entering into fellowship with the soul that is disobedient to His will. Believe me, it is absolutely useless, it is mere mockery, to say "Lord, Lord" and then refuse to do the things that He commands you to do."

- Clovis G. Chappell (1882-1972) Methodist Clergyman

IF YOU FIND YOURSELF

"If you find yourself loving any pleasure more than your prayers, any book better than the Bible, any house better than the house of the Lord, any table better than the Lord’s table, any persons better than Christ, or any indulgence better than the hope of heaven – be alarmed."

- Thomas Guthrie (1803-1873) Scottish Divine Thilanthropist

THE CASE OF BACKSLIDERS IS VERY SAD

"As the case of backsliders is very sad, so our diligence must be very great for their recovery. It is sad to them to lose so much of their life, and peace, and serviceableness to God; and to become so serviceable to Satan and his cause. It is sad to us to see that all our labor is come to this; and that, when we have taken so much pains with them, and have had so much hopes of them, all should be so far frustrated. It is saddest of all, to think that God should be so dishonored by those whom He has so loved, and for whom he has done so much; and that Christ should be so wounded in the house of His friends. Besides, partial backsliding has a natural tendency to total apostasy, and would effect it, if special grace did not prevent it."

- Richard Baxter (1615-1691) English Puritan Church Leader

THOSE WHO FALL AWAY

"Those who fall away have never been thoroughly imbued with the knowledge of Christ but only had a slight and passing taste of it."

- John Calvin (1509-1564) French Theologian 

THE TRUTH BRINGS HIM TO HIS KNEES

"The backslider likes the preaching that wouldn't hit the side of a house, while the real disciple is delighted when the truth brings him to his knees."

- Billy Sunday (1862-1935) American Evangelist, MLB Baseball Player

MEN FALL IN PRIVATE

"Men fall in private long before they fall in public."

- J. C. Ryle (1816-1900) English Anglican Bishop

IF YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD

"Remember that if you are a child of God, you will never be happy in sin. You are spoiled for the world, the flesh, and the devil. When you were regenerated there was put into you a vital principle, which can never be content to dwell in the dead world. You will have to come back, if indeed you belong to the family."

- Charles H. Spurgeon. (1834-1892) English Pastor Clergyman

REMAIN STEADFAST UNDER TRIAL

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."

- James 1:12 

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IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE    

"In our natural life our ambitions are our own.  In the Christian life we have no aim of our own, and God’s aim looks like missing the mark because we are too shortsighted to see what he is aiming at."    

- Oswald Chambers (1874–1917) Scottish Evangelist and Teacher

THE FOUNDATION STONES OF CHRISTIANITY  

"The resurrection of Christ is one of the foundation stones of Christianity. It was the seal of the great work that He came on earth to do. It was the crowning proof that the ransom He paid for sinners was accepted, the atonement for sin accomplished, the head of him who had the power of death bruised, and the victory won."  

- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) English Baptist Preacher

THE CLAIM OF CHRISTIANITY  

"Perfect correspondence," according to Mr. Herbert Spencer, would be "perfect Life." To abolish Death, therefore, all that would be necessary would be to abolish Imperfection. But it is the claim of Christianity that it can abolish Death. And it is significant to notice that it does so meeting this very demand of science--it abolishes imperfection.'"  

- Henry Drummond (1851-1897) Scottish Evangelist, Biologist 

THE CHRISTIAN WITNESS  

"The Christian witness through the centuries has been that "God so loved the world ... "; it remains for us to see that love in the light of God's infinitude. His love is measureless. It is more: it is boundless. It has no bounds because it is not a thing but a facet of the essential nature of God. His love is something He is, and because He is infinite that love can enfold the whole created world in itself and have room for ten thousand times ten thousand worlds beside."   

-  A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) American Pastor and Teacher

TEST OF THE CHRISTIAN CHARACTER  

"The test of Christian character should be that a man is a joy-bearing agent to the world." 

- Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) American Clergyman and Scholar 

IF ANYONE WISHES TO COME AFTER ME  

“And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?”  

- Luke 9:23-25

THE CHRISTIAN MUST STAND FIRM ON HIS PRINCIPLES  

"No, the Christian must stand fixed to his principles, and not change his habit; but freely show what countryman he is by his holy constancy in the truth."  

- William Gurnall (1616-1679) English Anglican Clergyman 

THE CHRISTIAN DOES NOT THINK  

“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.” 

- C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish Writer and Scholar 

MANY CHRISTIANS ARE IN TROUBLE ABOUT TEH FUTURE  

"I find that many Christians are in trouble about the future; they think they will not have grace enough to die by. It is much more important that we should have grace enough to live by. It seems to me that death is of very little importance in the meantime. When the dying hour comes, there will be dying grace; but you do not require dying grace to live by."  

- D. L. Moody (1837-1899) American Evangelist, Teacher and Preacher

A TRUE CHRISTIAN   

“A true Christian lives and labors on earth not for himself but for his neighbor. Therefore, the whole spirit of his life impels him to do even that which he needs not do, but which is profitable and necessary for his neighbor.”  

- Martin Luther (1483-1546) German Priest, Theologian

IN THE CHRISTIAN'S JOURNEY  

"Nothing whatever, whether great or small, can happen to a believer, without God's ordering and permission. There is no such thing as "chance," "luck" or "accident" in the Christian's journey through this world. All is arranged and appointed by God. And all things are "working together" for the believer's good."  

- J. C. Ryle (1816-1900) English Anglican Bishop  

ALL CHRISTIAN POWER  

"All Christian power springs from communion with God and from the indwelling of divine grace." 

 - James H.  Aughey (1828-1911) Imprisoned American Minister

JESUS SAID TO HIM  

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  

- John 14:6 

IF YOU READ HISTORY, YOU WILL FIND 

"If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next."  

- C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish Writer and Scholar 

THE DUTY OF EVERY CHRISTIAN 

"It is the duty of every Christian to be Christ to his neighbor."  

- Martin Luther (1483-1546) German Priest, Theologian

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS STAMPED  

The Christian life is stamped all through with impossibility.  Human nature cannot come anywhere near what Jesus Christ demands, and any rational being facing his demands honestly, says, “It can’t be done, apart from a miracle.”  

 
- Oswald Chambers (1874–1917) Scottish Evangelist and Teacher 

Photo Source: wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Christian_art_and_architecture

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:" - Psalm 103:2

I SAY THIS FOR YOUR OWN BENEFIT 

"I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord."  

- 1 Corinthians 7:35

FOR THE BENFIT OF THE PEOPLE  

"I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”  

- John 11:42  

ALL THIS IS FOR YOUR BENEFIT  

"All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God."  

- 2 Corinthians 4:15

THOSE WHO ARE KIND BENEFIT THEMSELVES 

"Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves." 

- Proverbs 11:17

THE BENEFIT YOU REAP  

"But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life." 

- Romans 6:22 

THE BENFIT OF THE DOUBT  

"If I do not give a friend "The benefit of the doubt," but put the worst construction instead of the best on what is said or done, then I know nothing of Calvary love."  

- Amy Carmichael (1867-1951) Irish Christian Missionary in India  

FOR THE BENEFITS OF OTHERS  

"All the blessings we enjoy are Divine deposits, committed to our trust on this condition, that they should be dispensed for the benefit of our neighbors."  

- John Calvin (1509-1564) French Theologian

UNLESS WE CONSENT TO HIM AS OUR LORD 

"All the grace contained in [the Bible] is owing to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior; and, unless we consent to Him as our Lord we cannot expect any benefit by Him as our Savior."  

- Matthew Henry (1662-1714) Nonconformist Minister, Writer 

IF THERE ARE TO BE ANY BENEFIT  

"I do not think that we should look upon painful experiences too pessimistically. Surely they are more profitable than we think at the time we are going through the anguish connected with them. But if they are to be of any benefit to us, we must, in the first place, be truthful and not begin to practice deception, that is, excuse and defend our slovenly prayer life. We must admit our weakness in prayer, admit that we are faced with a problem which cannot be solved by our own efforts."  

- Ole Hallesby (1879-1961) Norwegian Lutheran Theologian 

THIS VOICE WAS FOR YOUR BENEFIT  

"Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine." 

- John 12:30

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Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." - Colossians 3:2

BLINDED THE MINDS OF UNBELIEVERS

"In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

- 2 Cor 4:4

RENEWING OF YOUR MIND

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

- Colossians 3:2

BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

- Romans 12:2 

LOVE YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR MIND

"And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."

- Matthew 22:37

BE SOBER-MINDED AND WATCHFUL

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

- 1 Peter 5:8

SET YOUR MIND ON THESE THINGS

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry."

- Colossians 3:2-5

WHOEVER TRUSTS IN HIS OWN MIND

Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

THE LORD SEARCHES THE HEART AND TESTS THE MIND

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

- Jeremiah 17:9-10

SETTING THE MIND ON THE FLESH IS DEATH

"For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace."

- Romans 8:6

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"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38-39

NOTHING COVERED THAT WILL NOT BE REVEALED    

“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known." 

- Matthew 10:26

HANGS THE EARTH ON NOTHING  

"He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing." 

- Job 26:7

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING CAN SEPARATE YOU  

"Nothing can separate you from God's love, absolutely nothing. God is enough for time, God is enough for eternity. God is enough!"  

- Hannah Whitall Smith (1832-1911) American Evangelist and Reformer  

YOU HAVE ASKED NOTHING IN MY NAME  

"Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."  

- John 16:24

NOTHING SHALL HURT YOU  

"Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you."  

- Luke 10:19

GOD DOES NOTHING WITHOUT REVEALING   

“For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets." 

- Amos 3:7

BUT I HAVE LOVE, I HAVE NOTHING  

"And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."  

- 1 Corinthians 13:2

WHEN YOU HAVE NOTHING BUT GOD    

"When you have no helpers, see your helpers in God. When you have many helpers, see God in all your helpers. When you have nothing but God, see all in God. When you have everything, see God in everything. Under all conditions, stay thy heart only on the Lord."   

- Charles Spurgeon

NOTHING GOOD DWELLS IN ME  

"For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out."  

- Romans 7:18

LORD WITHOUT THEE I CAN DO NOTHING

"Lord without Thee I can do nothing; with Thee I can do all. Help me by Thy grace, that I fall not ; help me by Thy strength, to resist mightily the very first beginnings of evil, before it takes hold of me; help me to cast myself at once at Thy sacred feet, and lie still there, until the storm be overpast; and, if I lose sight of Thee, bring me back quickly to Thee, and grant me to love Thee better, for Thy tender mercy's sake—Amen."

- Edward Bouverie Pusey (1800-1882) English Anglican Cleric

APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING  

"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."  

- John 15:5

TREASURE OF WICKEDNESS PROFIT NOTHING  

"Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death."  

- Proverbs 10:2

THERE IS NOTHING PERFECT IN THIS WORLD  

"I have lived long enough to discover that there is nothing perfect in this world. If you are to wait till you find a perfect preacher, or perfect meetings, I am afraid you will have to wait till the millennium arrives. What we want is to be looking up to Christ. Let us be done with faultfinding."  

- D. L. Moody (1837-1899) American Evangelist, Teacher and Preacher

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU  

He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” 

- Matthew 17:20

Photo Source: designnominees.com/apps/bible-art-jesus-wallpapers-app - Batoni - The prodigal Son