Daily Strength for Daily Needs Part 7

As soon as we lay ourselves entirely at His feet, we have enough light given us to guide our own steps; as the foot-soldier, who hears nothing of the councils that determine the course of the great battle he is in, hears plainly enough the word of command which he must himself obey.

GEORGE ELIOT.

February 8

_He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake_.--PS. xxiii. 2, 3.

He leads me where the waters glide, The waters soft and still, And homeward He will gently guide My wandering heart and will.

J. KEBLE.

Out of obedience and devotion arises an habitual faith, which makes Him, though unseen, a part of all our life. He will guide us in a sure path, though it be a rough one: though shadows hang upon it, yet He will be with us. He will bring us home at last. Through much trial it may be, and weariness, in much fear and fainting of heart, in much sadness and loneliness, in griefs that the world never knows, and under burdens that the nearest never suspect. Yet He will suffice for all. By His eye or by His voice He will guide us, if we be docile and gentle; by His staff and by His rod, if we wander or are wilful: any how, and by all means, He will bring us to His rest.

H. E. MANNING.

February 9

_I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine_.--MATT. xxv. 25.

Time was, I shrank from what was right, From fear of what was wrong; I would not brave the sacred fight, Because the foe was strong.

But now I cast that finer sense And sorer shame aside; Such dread of sin was indolence, Such aim at heaven was pride.

J. H. NEWMAN.

If he falls into some error, he does not fret over it, but rising up with a humble spirit, he goes on his way anew rejoicing. Were he to fall a hundred times in the day, he would not despair,--he would rather cry out lovingly to G.o.d, appealing to His tender pity. The really devout man has a horror of evil, but he has a still greater love of that which is good; he is more set on doing what is right, than avoiding what is wrong. Generous, large-hearted, he is not afraid of danger in serving G.o.d, and would rather run the risk of doing His will imperfectly than not strive to serve Him lest he fail in the attempt.

JEAN NICOLAS GROU.

February 10

_We have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation_.--ISA. xxv.

9.

Blest are the humble souls that wait With sweet submission to His will; Harmonious all their pa.s.sions move, And in the midst of storms are still.

P. DODDRIDGE.

Do not be discouraged at your faults; bear with yourself in correcting them, as you would with your neighbor. Lay aside this ardor of mind, which exhausts your body, and leads you to commit errors. Accustom yourself gradually to carry prayer into all your daily occupations. Speak, move, work, in peace, as if you were in prayer, as indeed you ought to be. Do everything without excitement, by the spirit of grace. As soon as you perceive your natural impetuosity gliding in, retire quietly within, where is the kingdom of G.o.d. Listen to the leadings of grace, then say and do nothing but what the Holy Spirit shall put in your heart. You will find that you will become more tranquil, that your words will be fewer and more effectual, and that, with less effort, you will accomplish more good.

FRANcOIS DE LA MOTHE FeNELON.

February 11

_I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do_.--JOHN xvii. 4.

_She hath done what she could_.--MARK xiv. 8.

He who G.o.d's will has borne and done, And his own restless longings stilled, What else he does, or has foregone, His mission he has well fulfilled.

FROM THE GERMAN.

Cheered by the presence of G.o.d, I will do at each moment, without anxiety, according to the strength which He shall give me, the work that His Providence a.s.signs me. I will leave the rest without concern; it is not my affair. I ought to consider the duty to which I am called each day, as the work that G.o.d has given me to do, and to apply myself to it in a manner worthy of His glory, that is to say, with exactness and in peace. I must neglect nothing; I must be violent about nothing.

FRANcOIS DE LA MOTHE FeNELON.

It is thy duty oftentimes to do what thou wouldst not; thy duty, too, to leave undone what thou wouldst do.

THOMAS a KEMPIS.

February 12

_Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits_.--PS. lxviii. 19.

_Nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living G.o.d, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy_.--I TIM. vi. 17.

Source of my life's refres.h.i.+ng springs, Whose presence in my heart sustains me, Thy love ordains me pleasant things, Thy mercy orders all that pains me.

A. L. WARING.

And to be true, and speak my soul, when I survey the occurrences of my life, and call into account the finger of G.o.d, I can perceive nothing but an abyss and ma.s.s of mercies, either in general to mankind, or in particular to myself; and whether out of the prejudice of my affection, or an inverting and partial conceit of His mercies, I know not; but those which others term crosses, afflictions, judgments, misfortunes, to me who inquire farther into them than their visible effects, they both appear, and in event have ever proved, the secret and dissembled favors of His affection.

SIR T. BROWNE.

February 13

_Let Him do to me as seemeth good unto Him_.--2 SAM. xv. 26.

To have, each day, the thing I wish, Lord, that seems best to me; But not to have the thing I wish, Lord, that seems best to Thee.

Most truly, then, Thy will is done, When mine, O Lord, is crossed; It is good to see my plans o'erthrown, My ways in Thine all lost.