Daily Strength for Daily Needs Part 8

H. BONAR.

O Lord, Thou knowest what is best for us; let this or that be done, as Thou shalt please. Give what Thou wilt, and how much Thou wilt, and when Thou wilt. Deal with me as Thou thinkest good. Set me where Thou wilt, and deal with me in all things just as Thou wilt. Behold, I am Thy servant, prepared for all things: for I desire not to live unto myself, but unto Thee; and oh, that I could do it worthily and perfectly!

THOMAS a KEMPIS.

Dare to look up to G.o.d, and say, "Make use of me for the future as Thou wilt. I am of the same mind; I am one with Thee. I refuse nothing which seems good to Thee. Lead me whither Thou wilt, clothe me in whatever dress Thou wilt. Is it Thy will that I should be in a public or a private condition, dwell here, or be banished, be poor or rich? Under all these circ.u.mstances, I will testify unto Thee before men."

EPICTETUS.

February 14

_I would have you without carefulness_.--I COR. vii. 32.

O Lord, how happy should we be If we could cast our care on Thee, If we from self could rest; And feel at heart that One above, In perfect wisdom, perfect love, Is working for the best.

J. ANSTICE.

Cast all thy care on G.o.d. See that all thy cares be such as thou canst cast on G.o.d, and then hold none back. Never brood over thyself; never stop short in thyself; but cast thy whole self, even this very care which distresseth thee, upon G.o.d. Be not anxious about little things, if thou wouldst learn to trust G.o.d with thine all. Act upon faith in little things; commit thy daily cares and anxieties to Him; and He will strengthen thy faith for any greater trials. Rather, give thy whole self into G.o.d's hands, and so trust Him to take care of thee in all lesser things, as being His, for His own sake, whose thou art.

E. B. PUSEY.

February 15

_If ye fulfil the royal law according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well_.--JAMES ii. 8.

Come, children, let us go!

We travel hand in hand; Each in his brother finds his joy In this wild stranger land.

The strong be quick to raise The weaker when they fall; Let love and peace and patience bloom In ready help for all.

G. TERSTEEGEN.

It is a sad weakness in us, after all, that the thought of a man's death hallows him anew to us; as if life were not sacred too,--as if it were comparatively a light thing to fail in love and reverence to the brother who has to climb the whole toilsome steep with us, and all our tears and tenderness were due to the one who is spared that hard journey.

GEORGE ELIOT.

Would we codify the laws that should reign in households, and whose daily transgression annoys and mortifies us, and degrades our household life,--we must learn to adorn every day with sacrifices. Good manners are made up of petty sacrifices. Temperance, courage, love, are made up of the same jewels. Listen to every prompting of honor.

R. W. EMERSON.

February 16

_Serve Him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind_.--I CHRON.

xxviii. 9.

And if some things I do not ask, In my cup of blessing be, I would have my spirit filled the more With grateful love to Thee,-- More careful,--not to serve Thee much, But to please Thee perfectly.

A. L. WARING.

Little things come daily, hourly, within our reach, and they are not less calculated to set forward our growth in holiness, than are the greater occasions which occur but rarely. Moreover, fidelity in trifles, and an earnest seeking to please G.o.d in little matters, is a test of real devotion and love. Let your aim be to please our dear Lord perfectly in little things, and to attain a spirit of childlike simplicity and dependence. In proportion as self-love and self-confidence are weakened, and our will bowed to that of G.o.d, so will hindrances disappear, the internal troubles and contests which hara.s.sed the soul vanish, and it will be filled with peace and tranquillity.

JEAN NICOLAS GROU.

February 17

_My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations [or "trials"], knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience_.--JAMES i. 2, 3.

For patience, when the rough winds blow!

For patience, when our hopes are fading,-- When visible things all backward go, And nowhere seems the power of aiding!

G.o.d still enfolds thee with His viewless hand, And leads thee surely to the Fatherland.

N. L. FROTHINGHAM, _from the German_.

We have need of patience with ourselves and with others; with those below, and those above us, and with our own equals; with those who love us and those who love us not; for the greatest things and for the least; against sudden inroads of trouble, and under our daily burdens; disappointments as to the weather, or the breaking of the heart; in the weariness of the body, or the wearing of the soul; in our own failure of duty, or others' failure toward us; in every-day wants, or in the aching of sickness or the decay of age; in disappointment, bereavement, losses, injuries, reproaches; in heaviness of the heart; or its sickness amid delayed hopes. In all these things, from childhood's little troubles to the martyr's sufferings, patience is the grace of G.o.d, whereby we endure evil for the love of G.o.d.

E. B. PUSEY.

February 18

_It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes_.--PS. cxix. 71.

_But though He cause grief yet will He have compa.s.sion, according to the mult.i.tude of His mercies_.--LAM. iii. 32.

And yet these days of dreariness are sent us from above; They do not come in anger, but in faithfulness and love; They come to teach us lessons which bright ones could not yield, And to leave us blest and thankful when their purpose is fulfilled.

ANON.

Heed not distressing thoughts when they rise ever so strongly in thee; nay, though they have entered thee, fear them not, but be still awhile, not believing in the power which thou feelest they have over thee, and it will fall on a sudden. It is good for thy spirit, and greatly to thy advantage, to be much and variously exercised by the Lord. Thou dost not know what the Lord hath already done, and what He is yet doing for thee therein.

I. PENINGTON.

Why should I start at the plough of my Lord, that maketh deep furrows on my soul? I know He is no idle husbandman, He purposeth a crop.

S. RUTHERFORD.