Morning, March 15
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Bible League: Living His Word
The Lord GOD gives me my strength.
    He helps me run fast like a deer.
    He leads me safely on the mountains.

Where does your strength come from? Does it come from the power of your own flesh and self-determination, or does it come from somewhere or someone else? For Habakkuk, the source of his strength came from above. The Lord God was the source of his strength and, as a result, he had supernatural strength at work in his very natural life. Habakkuk could do the "whatever I must do" of the Apostle Paul (Philippians 4:13) through the supernatural power at work in his weakness (II Corinthians 12:9).

Thus, Habakkuk could run like a deer. The metaphor indicates that Habakkuk could, with the strength of the Lord God, run through life like a deer running through the fields. For a deer, running through the fields is a seemingly effortless endeavor. Instead of the slogging and trudging of mere humans through the fields, Habakkuk could negotiate the streams and vast expanses with the speed and ease of a deer. When you go through life in the strength of the Lord God things are a lot easier than when you try to go it alone.

Habakkuk, however, could do more than just run swiftly through the fields. He could also safely find his way upon the mountains. This metaphor indicates that Habakkuk could, with the strength and leading of the Lord God, find his way through the insurmountable obstacles of life like a deer bounding up the mountain sides. Instead of the difficult climbing required of mere humans, Habakkuk could negotiate the rocks and trees with the sure-footedness of a deer. When you go through life with the strength and leading of the Lord God it is a lot easier to handle the obstacles of life than when you try to go it alone.

Apart from the Lord life can be very hard. Before you come face to face with the fields and mountains of life today, take Habakkuk's words into consideration. Seek the strength and leading of the Lord God and make things easier on yourself.

Bible in a Year
Old Testament Reading
Deuteronomy 26, 27


Deuteronomy 26 -- Offering First Fruits and Tithes

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Deuteronomy 27 -- The Altar and Curses on Mount Ebal

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New Testament Reading
Mark 15:1-26


Mark 15 -- Jesus before Pilate; Mocked by Soldiers; Crucifixion; Burial

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library.
Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion
I love them, but they try to destroy me with accusations
        even as I am praying for them!
Insight
David was angry at being attacked by evil people who slandered him and lied. Yet David remained a friend and a man of prayer.
Challenge
While we must hate evil and work to overcome it, we must love everyone, including those who do evil, because God loves them. We are called to hate the sin, but love the person. Only through God's strength will we be able to follow David's example.
Morning and Evening by Spurgeon
2 Timothy 2:1  Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Christ has grace without measure in himself, but he hath not retained it for himself. As the reservoir empties itself into the pipes, so hath Christ emptied out his grace for his people. "Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace." He seems only to have in order to dispense to us. He stands like the fountain, always flowing, but only running in order to supply the empty pitchers and the thirsty lips which draw nigh unto it. Like a tree, he bears sweet fruit, not to hang on boughs, but to be gathered by those who need. Grace, whether its work be to pardon, to cleanse, to preserve, to strengthen, to enlighten, to quicken, or to restore, is ever to be had from him freely and without price; nor is there one form of the work of grace which he has not bestowed upon his people. As the blood of the body, though flowing from the heart, belongs equally to every member, so the influences of grace are the inheritance of every saint united to the Lamb; and herein there is a sweet communion between Christ and his Church, inasmuch as they both receive the same grace. Christ is the head upon which the oil is first poured; but the same oil runs to the very skirts of the garments, so that the meanest saint has an unction of the same costly moisture as that which fell upon the head. This is true communion when the sap of grace flows from the stem to the branch, and when it is perceived that the stem itself is sustained by the very nourishment which feeds the branch. As we day by day receive grace from Jesus, and more constantly recognize it as coming from him, we shall behold him in communion with us, and enjoy the felicity of communion with him. Let us make daily use of our riches, and ever repair to him as to our own Lord in covenant, taking from him the supply of all we need with as much boldness as men take money from their own purse.

Daily Light on the Daily Path
Hebrews 2:10  For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.

Matthew 26:38,39  Then He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me." • And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will."

Luke 22:44  And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

Psalm 116:3  The cords of death encompassed me And the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow.

Psalm 69:20  Reproach has broken my heart and I am so sick. And I looked for sympathy, but there was none, And for comforters, but I found none.

Psalm 142:4  Look to the right and see; For there is no one who regards me; There is no escape for me; No one cares for my soul.

Isaiah 53:3  He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

Evening March 14
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