Daily Strength for Daily Needs Part 19

April 14

_All thing are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is G.o.d's_.--I COR. iii. 21, 22, 23.

_As having nothing, and yet possessing all things_,--2 COR. vi. 10.

Old friends, old scenes, will lovelier be, As more of heaven in each we see: Some softening gleam of love and prayer Shall dawn on every cross and care.

J. KEBLE.

Out of love and hatred, out of earnings, and borrowings, and lendings, and losses; out of sickness and pain, out of wooing and wors.h.i.+pping; out of travelling, and voting, and watching, and caring; out of disgrace and contempt, comes our tuition in the serene and beautiful laws. Let him not slur his lesson; let him learn it by heart. Let him endeavor exactly, bravely, and cheerfully, to solve the problem of that life which is set before _him_. And this, by punctual action, and not by promises or dreams.

Believing, as in G.o.d, in the presence and favor of the grandest influences, let him deserve that favor, and learn how to receive and use it, by fidelity also to the lower observances.

R. W. EMERSON.

April 15

_We know that all things work together for good to them that love G.o.d_.--ROM. viii. 28.

_As for you, ye thought evil against me; but G.o.d meant it unto good_.--GEN.

1. 20.

Ill that He blesses is our good, And unblest good is ill; And all is right that seems most wrong, If it be His sweet Will.

F. W. FABER.

To those who know themselves, all things work together for good, and all things seem to be, as they are to them, good. The goods which G.o.d gives seem "very good," and G.o.d Himself in them, because they know that they deserve them not. The evils which G.o.d allows and overrules seem also "very good," because they see in them His loving hand, put forth to heal them of what shuts out G.o.d from the soul. They love G.o.d intensely, in that He is so good to them in each, and every, the least good, because it is more than they deserve: how much more in the greatest! They love G.o.d for every, and each, the very greatest of what seem evils, knowing them to be, from His love, real goods. For He by whom "all the hairs of our head are numbered,"

and who "knoweth whereof we are made," directs everything which befalls us in life, in perfect wisdom and love, to the well-being of our souls.

E. B. PUSEY.

April 16

_The very G.o.d of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray G.o.d your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it_.--I THESS. v. 23, 24.

Be still, my soul!--the Lord is on thy side; Bear patiently the cross of grief and pain; Leave to thy G.o.d to order and provide,-- In every change He faithful will remain.

HYMNS FROM THE LAND OF LUTHER.

It was no relief from temporal evils that the Apostle promised. No; the mercy of G.o.d might send them to the stake, or the lions; it was still His mercy, if it but kept them "unspotted from the world." It might expose them to insult, calumny, and wrong; they received it still as mercy, if it "established them in every good word and work." O brethren! how many of _you_ are content with _such_ faithfulness as this on the part of your heavenly Father? Is this, indeed, the tone and tenor of your prayers?

WM. ARCHER BUTLER.

The highest pinnacle of the spiritual life is not happy joy in unbroken suns.h.i.+ne, but absolute and undoubting trust in the love of G.o.d.

A. W. THOROLD.

April 17

_Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust_.--PS. xl. 4.

_That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life_.--I TIM. ii. 2.

Just to let thy Father do What He will; Just to know that He is true, And be still; Just to trust Him, this is all!

Then the day will surely be Peaceful, whatsoe'er befall, Bright and blessed, calm and free.

F. R. HAVERGAL.

Every morning compose your soul for a tranquil day, and all through it be careful often to recall your resolution, and bring yourself back to it, so to say. If something discomposes you, do not be upset, or troubled; but having discovered the fact, humble yourself gently before G.o.d, and try to bring your mind into a quiet att.i.tude. Say to yourself, "Well, I have made a false step; now I must go more carefully and watchfully." Do this each time, however frequently you fall. When you are at peace use it profitably, making constant acts of meekness, and seeking to be calm even in the most trifling things. Above all, do not be discouraged; be patient; wait; strive to attain a calm, gentle spirit.

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES.

April 18

_What doth the Lord thy G.o.d require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy G.o.d, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord thy G.o.d with all thy heart and with all thy soul_?--DEUT. x. 12.

What asks our Father of His children save Justice and mercy and humility, A reasonable service of good deeds, Pure living, tenderness to human needs, Reverence, and trust, and prayer for light to see The Master's footprints in our daily ways?

No knotted scourge, nor sacrificial knife, But the calm beauty of an ordered life Whose every breathing is unworded praise.

J. G. WHITTIER.

Give up yourself to G.o.d without reserve; in singleness of heart meeting everything that every day brings forth, as something that comes from G.o.d, and is to be received and gone through by you, in such an heavenly use of it, as you would suppose the holy Jesus would have done in such occurrences. This is an attainable degree of perfection.

WM. LAW.

We ought to measure our actual lot, and to fulfil it; to be with all our strength that which our lot requires and allows. What is beyond it, is no calling of ours. How much peace, quiet, confidence, and strength, would people attain, if they would go by this plain rule.

H. E. MANNING.

April 19

_The hand of our G.o.d is upon all them for good that seek Him_.--EZRA viii.

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