Daily Strength for Daily Needs Part 21

April 25

_Surely, I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child_.--PS. cx.x.xi. 2.

Quiet, Lord, my froward heart, Make me teachable and mild, Upright, simple, free from art, Make me as a weaned child; From distrust and envy free, Pleased with all that pleaseth Thee.

J. NEWTON.

Oh! look not after great things: small breathings, small desires after the Lord, if true and pure, are sweet beginnings of life. Take heed of despising "the day of small things," by looking after some great visitation, proportionable to thy distress, according to thy eye. Nay, thou must become a child; thou must lose thy own will quite by degrees. Thou must wait for life to be measured out by the Father, and be content with what proportion, and at what time, He shall please to measure.

I. PENINGTON.

"When Israel was a child, then I loved him" (Hosea xi. 1). Aim to be ever this little child, contented with what the Father gives of pleasure or of play; and when restrained from pleasure or from play, and led for a season into the chamber of sorrow, rest quiet on His bosom, and be patient, and smile, as one who is nestled in a sweet and secure asylum.

ANON.

April 26

_If we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it_.--ROM. viii. 25.

_One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day_.--2 PETER iii. 8.

Lord! who Thy thousand years dost wait To work the thousandth part Of Thy vast plan, for us create With zeal a patient heart.

J. H. NEWMAN.

I believe that if we could only see beforehand what it is that our heavenly Father means us to be,--the _soul_ beauty and perfection and glory, the glorious and lovely spiritual body that this soul is to dwell in through all eternity,--if we could have a glimpse of _this_, we should not grudge all the trouble and pains He is taking with us now, to bring us up to that ideal, which is His thought of us. We know that it is G.o.d's way to work slowly, so we must not be surprised if He takes a great many years of discipline to turn a mortal being into an immortal, glorious angel.

ANNIE KEARY.

April 27

_Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor_,--ZECH. viii. 16.

_For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and G.o.dly sincerity... we have had our conversation in the world_.--2 COR. i. 12.

Appear I always what I am?

And am I what I am pretending?

Know I what way my course is bending?

And sound my word and thought the same?

ANON.

Am I acting in simplicity, from a germ of the Divine life within, or am I shaping my path to obtain some immediate result of expediency? Am I endeavoring to compa.s.s effects, amidst a tangled web of foreign influences I cannot calculate; or am I seeking simply to do what is right, and leaving the consequences to the good providence of G.o.d?

M. A. SCHIMMELPENNINCK.

Let it not be in any man's power to say truly of thee that thou art not simple, or that thou art not good; but let him be a liar whoever shall think anything of this kind about thee; and this is altogether in thy power. For who is he that shall hinder thee from being good and simple?

MARCUS ANTONINUS.

April 28

_The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand_.--PS.

cxxi. 5.

_Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them_.--PS. cxix. 165.

I rest beneath the Almighty's shade, My griefs expire, my troubles cease; Thou, Lord, on whom my soul is stayed, Wilt keep me still in perfect peace.

C. WESLEY.

One great sign of the practical recognition of the "divine moment," and of our finding G.o.d's habitation in it, is constant calmness and peace of mind.

Events and things come with the moment; but G.o.d comes with them too. So that if He comes in the suns.h.i.+ne, we find rest and joy; and if He comes in the storm, we know He is King of the storms, and our hearts are not troubled. G.o.d Himself, though possessing a heart filled with the tenderest feelings, is, nevertheless, an everlasting tranquillity; and when we enter into His holy tabernacle, our souls necessarily enter into the tabernacle of rest.

T. C. UPHAM.

My soul was not only brought into harmony with itself and with G.o.d, but with G.o.d's providences. In the exercise of faith and love, I endured and performed whatever came in G.o.d's providence, in submission, in thankfulness, and silence.

MADAME GUYON.

April 29

_I will arise and go to my Father_.--LUKE xv. 18.

O my G.o.d, my Father! hear, And help me to believe; Weak and weary I draw near; Thy child, O G.o.d, receive.

I so oft have gone astray; To the perfect Guide I flee; Thou wilt turn me not away, Thy love is pledged to me.

HYMNS OF THE SPIRIT.

O child, hast thou fallen? arise, and go, with childlike trust, to thy Father, like the prodigal son, and humbly say, with heart and mouth, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before Thee, and am no more worthy to be called Thy son; make me as one of Thy hired servants." And what will thy heavenly Father do but what that father did in the parable?

a.s.suredly He will not change His essence, which is love, for the sake of thy misdoings. Is it not His own precious treasure, and a small thing with Him to forgive thee thy trespa.s.ses, if thou believe in Him? for His hand is not shortened that it cannot make thee fit to be saved.

JOHN TAULER.