Two Percent

Habakkuk 3:17-18 “Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the flocks disappear from the pen and there are no herds in the stalls, yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!”

This text brings to mind a dark time in my life.  98% of that time I was in the vice of my alcohol addiction I was in denial. I refused to admit or say I had a problem drinking.  I argued with my wife, I lied to her about quitting and when I got frustrated, I yelled telling her I had it under control.  The addiction mixed with the denial covered up an anger I didn’t know about.

But it was that 2% that saved my life.  That 2% that that was revealed to me when God’s Word began to strengthen my spirit. That 2% was my confession.  The day I confessed, what my spiritual eyes saw, is the day that began my transformation.

Now, don’t get me wrong, even though I confessed, there was still a cloud of doubt surrounding me.  My confession was the spirit telling me that God was in control. But my flesh wanted me to continue to see what was in front of my ‘physical’ eyes. My flesh was telling me, “…you’ve been drinking hard now for over 24 years. How do you think you can stop? You have to have a drink every single day now.  You are too weak to quit and get better.”

This is what I was faced with.  The chaos of the text was my darkness. If your fig tree is your only source of food and does not produce fruit; If your olive crop is your only source of provision for your livelihood and it fails. My addiction for alcohol had its time to grow and embed itself in my flesh. This dark journey went on for so long, I couldn’t visualize a day without it.  98% of of the fear entangled in our personal being is a result of everything going on in and around us.

But if we hang on to that 2% of faith, the strength of our spirit will overpower that 98% of doubt. How? Because when we “…celebrate in the Lord…” and “…rejoice in the God of salvation…” we allow the power of God to lay a miracle of healing on anything going on in and around us!  His mighty hand will lay on our issue and allow that issue to become a blessing. 

Because of my testimony about my addiction, I can now allow others going through similar addictions to see victory through their darkness.  They can see in me God’s miracle of forgiveness, love and protection.  Because my 2% was my praise in God, that 2% was strong enough to save my life!
I pray God’s power in your 2%. Hold on to your faith and watch the Word make it grow.

​May God continue to bless you with His power and strength on your journey in Jesus’ name.

Amen

Blessings,
 Billy

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