(1) How To Wait "Blessed is he that waiteth" (Dan. 12:12).It may seem an easy thing to wait, but it is oneof the postures which a Christian soldier learnsnot without years of teaching. Marching andquick-marching are much easier to God's warriorsthan standing still.There are hours of perplexity when the mostwilling spirit, anxiously desirous to serve theLord, knows not what part to take. Then whatshall it do? Vex itself by despair? Fly back incowardice, turn to the right hand in fear, orrush forward in presumption?No, but simply wait. Wait in prayer, however.Call upon God and spread the case before Him;tell Him your difficulty, and plead His promiseof aid.Wait in faith. Express your unstaggeringconfidence in Him. Believe that if He keep youtarrying even till midnight, yet He will come atthe right time; the vision shall come, and shallnot tarry.Wait in quiet patience. Never murmur against thesecond cause, as the children of Israel didagainst Moses. Accept the case as it is, and putit as it stands, simply and with your wholeheart, without any self-will, into the hand ofyour covenant God, saying, "Now, Lord, not mywill, but Thine be done. I know not what to do; Iam brought to extremities; but I will wait untilThou shalt cleave the floods, or drive back myfoes. I will wait, if Thou keep me many a day,for my heart is fixed upon Thee alone, O God, andmy spirit waiteth for Thee in full convictionthat Thou wilt yet be my joy and my salvation, myrefuge and my strong tower." --Morning by Morning Wait patiently wait, God never is late; Thy budding plans are in Thy Father's holding, And only wait His grand divine unfolding. Then wait, wait, Patiently wait.Trust, hopefully trust, That God will adjust Thy tangled life; and from its dark concealings, Will bring His will, in all its brightrevealings. Then trust, trust, Hopefully trust.Rest, peacefully rest On thy Saviour's breast; Breathe in His ear thy sacred high ambition, And He will bring it forth in blest fruition.Then rest, rest,Peacefully rest! --Mercy A. Gladwin
(2) Leave It To God "Roll on Jehovah thy way" (Ps. 37:6, margin).Whatever it is that presses thee, go tell theFather; put the whole matter over into His hand,and so shalt thou be freed from that dividing,perplexing care that the world is full of. Whenthou art either to do or suffer anything, whenthou art about any purpose or business, go tellGod of it, and acquaint Him with it; yes, burdenHim with it, and thou hast done for matter ofcaring; no more care, but quiet, sweet, diligencein thy duty, and dependence on Him for thecarriage of thy matters. Roll thy cares, andthyself with them, as one burden, all on thy God.--R. LeightonBuild a little fence of trust Around today;Fill the space with loving work And therein stay.Look not through the sheltering bars Upon tomorrow;God will help thee bear what comes Of joy or sorrow. --Mary ButtsWe shall find it impossible to commit our wayunto the Lord, unless it be a way that Heapproves. It is only by faith that a man cancommit his way unto the Lord; if there be theslightest doubt in the heart that "our way" isnot a good one, faith will refuse to haveanything to do with it. This committing of ourway must be a continuous, not a single act.However extraordinary and unexpected may seem tobe His guidance, however near the precipice Hemay take you, you are not to snatch the guidingreins out of His hands. Are we willing to haveall our ways submitted to God, for Him topronounce judgment on them? There is nothing aChristian needs to be more scrutinizing aboutthan about his confirmed habits and views. He istoo apt to take for granted the Divineapprobation of them. Why are some Christians soanxious, so fearful? Evidently because they havenot left their way with the Lord. They took it toHim, but brought it away with them again.--Selected
(3) Dealing With the Past "Believe ye that I am able to do this?" (Matt.9:28). God deals with impossibilities. It is never toolate for Him to do so, when the impossible isbrought to Him, in full faith, by the one inwhose life and circumstances the impossible mustbe accomplished if God is to be glorified. If inour own life there have been rebellion, unbelief,sin, and disaster, it is never too late for Godto deal triumphantly with these tragic facts ifbrought to Him in full surrender and trust. Ithas often been said, and with truth, thatChristianity is the only religion that can dealwith man's past. God can "restore the years thatthe locust hath eaten" (Joel