“For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” (Habakkuk 2:3, ESV)
Tempo and swing speed are two important components of the golf swing, and very different. Great golf is about repetition and at the core of repetition is your swing tempo—the time it takes the club to travel to the top of the backswing, then down and through to your finish.
Some days are easier than others for me to swing the club. But when I actively pay attention to my tempo, I am able to feel the transition at the top of my swing and the club releases through impact more freely.
I started using a metronome to embody the tempo I’m looking to repeat. I set it around a 58 to 60-beat cadence. Back, top. Back, top. The first beep initiates my takeaway and the second beat signals my change of direction. This allows my arms and shoulders to fully rotate back instead of rushing into the downswing. This sounds a bit technical, but I hope you are grasping that a slow, rhythmic tempo is important.
Spiritually speaking, the Lord desires that we also embrace a slow, rhythmic tempo so that we can experience his vision for our lives. The fast-paced speed at which we rush through our days diminishes our sense of awareness of the Spirit’s presence, a presence that is always with us and wants to guide us.
The Lord reminded Habakkuk that the vision awaits, but that it would unfold in its appointed time. The prophet Habakkuk was one who wanted the Lord to move quickly. Habakkuk’s concern for the violence and iniquity against the nation of Israel inflamed his complaints toward the Lord. He cried out, “…you will not hear? …and you will not save?” (Habakkuk 1:2). The Lord responded, “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told” (Habakkuk v. 5). Not the results Habakkuk was after.
Instead of slowing down, Habakkuk continued, “Why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?” (v. 13).
The Lord replied and told him to stop and write down a vision. The Lord reminded Habakkuk that the vision awaits, but that it would unfold in its appointed time. If it felt too slow in coming, Habakkuk was to wait for it. “It will surely come; it will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:3).
You can read more about the vision and the five woes to the nations in Habakkuk 2. We are not told whether Habakkuk actually witnessed the vision come true or not, but we do know that he did slow down long enough to embrace the Lord’s tempo: “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation (Habakkuk 3:18).
Your tempo is important. Will you pay attention to it?
—
Tracy Hanson
May 9, 2019
Copyright 2019 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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