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The Lord
is saying. Be very glad, be very glad for I have promised
a bright future for those who follow me. Eye has not seen
nor ear heard that which I have in store for you. The shakings
have been violent, the storms have been gale force yet I have
held you tight and calmed your fears. Be very glad for I am
your God, I am working all things out for your good, for those
shakings have not been in vain, they have shaken loose many
more ties that have bound you than you could ever realise
but have strengthened the cords that hold you close to me.
Spurgeon
Morning
“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain
thee.”
- Psa_55:22
Care, even though exercised upon legitimate objects, if carried
to excess, has in it the nature of sin. The precept to avoid
anxious care is earnestly inculcated by our Saviour, again
and again; it is reiterated by the apostles; and it is one
which cannot be neglected without involving transgression:
for the very essence of anxious care is the imagining that
we are wiser than God, and the thrusting ourselves into his
place to do for him that which he has undertaken to do for
us. We attempt to think of that which we fancy he will forget;
we labour to take upon ourselves our weary burden, as if he
were unable or unwilling to take it for us. Now this disobedience
to his plain precept, this unbelief in his Word, this presumption
in intruding upon his province, is all sinful. Yet more than
this, anxious care often leads to acts of sin. He who cannot
calmly leave his affairs in God’s hand, but will carry
his own burden, is very likely to be tempted to use wrong
means to help himself. This sin leads to a forsaking of God
as our counsellor, and resorting instead to human wisdom.
This is going to the “broken cistern” instead of
to the “fountain;” a sin which was laid against
Israel of old. Anxiety makes us doubt God’s lovingkindness,
and thus our love to him grows cold; we feel mistrust, and
thus grieve the Spirit of God, so that our prayers become
hindered, our consistent example marred, and our life one
of self-seeking. Thus want of confidence in God leads us to
wander far from him; but if through simple faith in his promise,
we cast each burden as it comes upon him, and are “careful
for nothing” because he undertakes to care for us, it
will keep us close to him, and strengthen us against much
temptation. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose
mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee.”
Evening
“Continue in the faith.”
- Act_14:22
Perseverance is the badge of true saints. The Christian life
is not a beginning only in the ways of God, but also a continuance
in the same as long as life lasts. It is with a Christian
as it was with the great Napoleon: he said, “Conquest
has made me what I am, and conquest must maintain me.”
So, under God, dear brother in the Lord, conquest has made
you what you are, and conquest must sustain you. Your motto
must be, “Excelsior.” He only is a true conqueror,
and shall be crowned at the last, who continueth till war’s
trumpet is blown no more. Perseverance is, therefore, the
target of all our spiritual enemies. The world does not object
to your being a Christian for a time, if she can but tempt
you to cease your pilgrimage, and settle down to buy and sell
with her in Vanity Fair. The flesh will seek to ensnare you,
and to prevent your pressing on to glory. “It is weary
work being a pilgrim; come, give it up. Am I always to be
mortified? Am I never to be indulged? Give me at least a furlough
from this constant warfare.” Satan will make many a fierce
attack on your perseverance; it will be the mark for all his
arrows. He will strive to hinder you in service: he will insinuate
that you are doing no good; and that you want rest. He will
endeavour to make you weary of suffering, he will whisper,
“Curse God, and die.” Or he will attack your steadfastness:
“What is the good of being so zealous? Be quiet like
the rest; sleep as do others, and let your lamp go out as
the other virgins do.” Or he will assail your doctrinal
sentiments: “Why do you hold to these denominational
creeds? Sensible men are getting more liberal; they are removing
the old landmarks: fall in with the times.” Wear your
shield, Christian, therefore, close upon your armour, and
cry mightily unto God, that by his Spirit you may endure to
the end.
Email:
shirleyhowitt@yahoo.co.uk
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DON'T QUIT!
When things go wrong as they sometimes will
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer, with its twists
and turns
As everyone of us sometimes learns
And many a failure turns about
When he/she might have won had he/she stuck it out
Don't give up though the pace seems slow
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned
inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are
It may be near when it seems so far
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
I have been advised that the author is:
Larry S Chengges
Or
Sam Candelaria
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