6 April 2022 - He makes my feet like those of a deer

*Hab 3:19 “The LORD Almighty is my strength. He makes my feet like those of a deer. He makes me walk on the mountains’’ *

A deer is quick. They can race effortless across a field. When an obstacle gets in their way, the go right over the top of it. They leap high and glide through the air, landing perfectly on the other side. So, don’t let your troubles get you down! Just go right over the top of them. During your trouble, God can make your feet like a deer. In other words, by faith, you won’t be hemmed in by your circumstances. You can leap over circumstances. You won’t be running in your own strength. God will enable you to run the race that is set before you. He will cause you to step into blessings that you’ve never even imagined.

Habakkuk 1:2-3 (NIV) “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? 3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.”

In a time of horrible spiritual decline, Habakkuk was a man greatly troubled by what was happening. He wanted to reconcile what he saw with what he believed. In the midst of chaos, he chose to rejoice in the Lord. Habakkuk promised that his praise and thanksgiving would be to God at all times regardless of his present situation in life. Habakkuk's thanksgiving was not dependent on or conditioned by external things. It was established and rooted in God.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NKJV) “Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.”

A hind is a female deer that can place her back feet exactly where her front feet stepped. Not one inch off! She is able to run with abandonment! In times of danger, she is able to run securely and not get "off track." The hind is able to scale unusually difficult terrain and elude predators.

When we run with hinds’ feet on high places, treading “on the heights,” we live above our circumstances. God gives us the grace, courage, and inner strength we need to press on to attain new heights. With the swiftness of a deer, we can escape our enemies and gain freedom. All this is because “the LORD is my strength”

Hebrews 12:2 (ESV) “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”