from "Old Collection"
More tear-offs from a devotional calendar, looks like a different year.
Friday, August 1
O spare me, that I may recover strength. ~Psalm 39:13
In other versions this phrase is translated, "let me smile again." Have the burdens of life crushed your spirit and wiped the smile from your face? David often had reason to feel this way and Psalm 39 is the response that he felt appropriate to such circumstances. Confident that the Lord had allowed these events, and permitted his tears to fall (v. 12), he anticipated the day when he would smile again. Don't give up; you will smile again, too. ~Garry W. Seale
The thought of God will ever make
Life's sweetest smiles from tears,
And is a daybreak to our hopes,
A sunset to our fears. ~Frederick W. Faber
Monday, August 4
He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. ~Mal. 3:3
In ancient days, the refiner of silver would begin his work by subjecting the metal to intense heat. Then scooping away the dross that had risen to the top, he would look over his completed work to view his own reflection. Only when he was able to clearly see his own image did he know that his work was done. As the Lord sends us through fiery trials, the impurities of our faith will rise to the surface so that they can be identified and scooped away, thus reflecting the image of Christ. ~Mark Kolchin
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine. ~George Keith
Thursday, August 14
He sought God...and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper. ~2 Chron. 26:5
At the age of sixteen, Uzziah came to the throne following the death of his father Amaziah. His 52-year reign started well, but in pride he went into the temple to burn incense, a task to which he was forbidden, and he was smitten with leprosy and died far from God. May the sad end of his life remind us that when we seek the Lord we prosper and when we are in disobedience we suffer under the disciplining hand of God. Remember, when Uzziah sought the Lord, he prospered. It was as simple as that. ~Arnot P. McIntee
O Thou who died on Calvary; to save my soul and make me free,
I'll consecrate my life to Thee, my Saviour and my God. ~R.H.
Thursday, August 19
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
~Psalm 73:26
The Psalmist had fallen to a level of deep discouragement that perhaps you are feeling today. He saw the prosperity of the wicked (v. 3); the pride of the foolish (v. 6), and the presumption of the ungodly (v. 11). His focus was off the Lord and on the circumstances of life and his faith was shaken to its very foundation (v. 13). What was the solution? "I went in to the sanctuary of God" (v. 17). Ah, this is the secret. It is there he sees the end of the unbelievers (v. 18); the wonder of God (v. 23); and his own unworthiness (v. 22). Dear discouraged Christian, "Draw near to God" (v. 28). ~C.T.
Lord, some are pressed with worldly care, and some are tried with sinful doubt;
And some such grievous passions bear that only Thou canst cast them out.
Wednesday, September 17
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. ~Psalm 23:6
There are many foreign students that come to my place of employment to be educated and trained. Some have names that are difficult to pronounce. Often African students have very colorful names that are easy to remember and spell. One day my secretary informed me that two students had been following me and that I had eluded them by going around a corner. I asked their names. "Goodness and Mercy," she replied. Are you aware, dear believer, that goodness and mercy are following you and shall do so all the days of your life. Rejoice in this. ~Brian Powlesland
Goodness and mercy all my life shall surely follow me,
And in God's house forevermore my dwelling place shall be.
No comments:
Post a Comment