Streams in the Desert: 366 daily devotional readings

528 Pages·1999·1.55 MB·English

by  L. B. Cowman

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About Streams in the Desert
An Updated Edition in Today’s Language
For years,the beloved classic devotional Streams in the Desert
has sustained and replenished God’s weary desert travelers.Now,
bursting forth like a sparkling clear river of wisdom,encour-
agement,and inspiration,this updated edition of Streams in the
Desertpromises to revive and refresh today’s generation of faith-
ful sojourners,providing daily Scripture passages from the pop-
ular,readable New International Version—and modern,easy-
to-understand language that beautifully captures the timeless
essence of the original devotional.
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Praise for
Streams in the Desert,Updated Edition
“Jim Reimann’s updating of Streams in the Desert is a much-
needed book for our time,and a worthy companion to his
updated My Utmost for His Highest. This new volume is truly
fresh water from a time-tested fountainhead of faith.”
—Gary Smalley
“The author has sifted through ideas and concepts and come
out with a shining work that uplifts and encourages the read-
er....A Handbook of strength and comfort.”
—Barbara Johnson,Spatula Ministries
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AN UPDATED EDITION IN TODAY’S LANGUAGE
S T R E A M S
IN THE
D E S E R T
®
3 6 6 D A I L Y
D E V O T I O N A L R E A D I N G S
L . B. C O W M A N
E D I T E D B Y J A M E S R E I M A N N
EDITOR OF MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST,
UPDATED EDITION
Streams in the Desert®
Adobe Acrobat eBook Reader™ Format
Copyright © 1997 by Zondervan
This updated edition is based on the original text of Streams in the Desert
Copyright 1925, 1953, and 1965 by Cowman Publications, Inc.,
and Copyright © 1996 by Zondervan
Requests for information should be addressed to:
Zondervan,Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530
ISBN: 0-310-24470-6
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the
Holy Bible: New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973,
1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of
Zondervan. All rights reserved. Note:when italics or small capitals are
used for emphasis in Scripture quotations, that use is the author’s, not
the original translators’.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical,
photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed
reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.
Interior design by Sue Vandenberg Koppenol
Table of Contents
Praise for Streams in the Desert, Updated Edition 3
Introduction to the Updated Edition 9
A Personal Word from L. B. Cowman 11
January 12
February 55
March 94
April 135
May 176
June 215
July 255
August 293
September 333
October 371
November 411
December 446
Contributors Index 489
Scripture Index 495
Subject Index 504
About the Authors 510
About the Publisher 513
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Dedication to the Updated Edition
To Aaron,my second-born son.You have endured a great
deal this past year:a sudden brain aneurysm and massive
hemorrhage,surgery,and an on-going recovery period.Yet
through it all,you have been a joy to all of us who love you
and evidence of God’s loving protection.You have not com-
plained but have been a living example of the Spirit of God
having His perfect way in the heart of a child of His.May
the Lord continue to use your life as a testimony for oth-
ers of Christ’s enduring power and grace.
Sometimes the Lord’s way is hard,
Leading through many stresses and storms;
But Satan’s harsh touch is barred,
And God’s character He surely forms.
Though you nearly tasted death,
You’ve learned how God sovereignly spares;
He renewed your life and breath,
Displaying how graciously He cares.
Yet today still unrevealed,
He has made for you a perfectplan;
Just follow the path He’s willed,
And you’ll soon become a godly man.
James Reimann
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’declares the Lord,
‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you,plans to give
you hope and a future’”(Jer.29:11).
“I always pray with joy...being confident of this,that he
who began a good work in you will carry it on to com-
pletion until the day of Christ Jesus”(Phil.1:4,6).
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“Through waves,and clouds,and storms
He gently clears the way.”
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Introduction to the Updated Edition
October 24,1995,is a date I will never forget.I was called out of
a business meeting with the terrifying news that my second-born son,
Aaron,had just had a massive brain hemorrhage while away at school.
After having won a scholarship to college and spending only six weeks
there,he had been found in a park near the school,calling out for
help.After a number of people ignored him,a “good Samaritan”final-
ly stopped to help.She called 911—saving him from certain death.
Aaron had emergency surgery to remove a blood clot that had grown
to the size of a tennis ball.
Since then Aaron has undergone months of therapy and has grace-
fully endured numerous changes in his life.It is continuing to take
much time and hard work,but he is determined to regain what he
has lost.And when I look back on the past year,I am also reminded
of a number of other changes and trials our family has endured.Yet as
a result,each of us has seen the sovereign hand of God at work.
Two days after my son’s surgery,Zondervan tried to contact me
to see if I would be interested in writing an updated edition of Streams
in the Desert.They had no way of knowing that I was still sitting with
my son in intensive care,and from the outset I have seen this timing
as sovereign—not coincidental.As I have worked on this book God has
ministered to me in a mighty way—meeting me at the point of my
own personal need.
Streams in the Desert’senduring power is the result of the selections
being firmly based on the truth of Scripture.As the editor of the updat-
ed edition,I have endeavored to maintain the beauty of the original with-
out altering its meaning,giving it the same care I gave the updated edi-
tion of My Utmost for His Highest,which I edited several years ago.
For those of you familiar with both Streams in the Desertand My Utmost
for His Highest,you may be interested in knowing something of the tie
between these two best-selling daily devotional books of all time.Not only
were they originally published during the same time period (Streamsin
1925,and My Utmostin 1927),but L.B.Cowman,who compiled Streams
in the Desert,and Oswald Chambers had ministered together.They met
when Cowman and her husband were missionaries to Japan and Cham-
bers traveled there to preach.Also,both were greatly influenced by Charles
Spurgeon,the great English preacher of the late 1800s.Chambers came
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