Defeat? no, this is Victory!

The very triumphs of His foes He used for their defeat. He compelled their dark achievements to subserve His ends, not theirs. They nailed Him to the tree, not knowing that by that very act they were bringing to world to His feet. They gave Him a cross, not guessing that He would make it a throne.

They flung him outside the gates to die, not knowing that at that very moment they were lifting up all the gates of the universe to let the King of Glory come in. They thought to root out His doctrines, not understanding that they were implanting imperishably in the hearts of men the very name they intended to destroy.

They thought they had God with His back to the wall, pinned and helpless and defeated. They did not know it was God Himself who had dragged them down to that point. He did not conquer in spite of the dark mystery of evil, He conquered through it.

(excerpt by James Stewart, a Scottish theologian, which is quoted in Joni Earackson's book: Heaven, Your Real Home)

A Call to Faithfulness, Diligence & Obedience

Teach me, my God and King,
In all things Thee to see,
And what I do in anything,
To do it as for Thee.
-- George Herbert --

"Not with eye-service, as menpleasers;
but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily,
as to the Lord, and not unto men.
Colossians 3:22-23

Every duty, even the least duty, involves the whole principle of obedience. And little duties make the will dutiful, that is, supple and prompt to obey. Little obediences lead into great. The daily round of duty is full of probation and of discipline; it trains the will, heart, and conscience. We need not to be prophets or apostles. The commonest life may be full of perfection. The duties of home are a discipline for the ministries of heaven.
-- Henry Edward Manning

Daily Strengths for Daily Needs, Mary W. Tileston

Wait

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied;
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,
And the Master who gently said,
"Child, you must wait."

"Wait You say wait!" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith, I have asked, and am claiming your Word!

"My future and all to which I can relate
Hangs in the balance, and YOU tell me to WAIT?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

"And Lord, You promised that if we believe
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
Lord, I've been asking and this is my cry;
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply!"

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied once again, "You must wait."
So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and tout
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting. . . for what?"

He seemed, then to kneel and His eyes wept with mine,
And he tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

"All you seek I could give and pleased you would be.
You would have what you want - but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint;
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence were all you could see.

"You'd never experience that fullness of love
As the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove;
You'd know that I live and I save . . . (for a start),
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

"The glow of My comfort late into the night;
The faith that I give when you walk without sight;
The depth that's beyond getting just what you asked
Of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST.

"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that 'My grace is sufficient for Thee.'
Yes, your dreams for your loved one overnight would come true,
But, Oh the loss! If I lost what I'm doing to you!

"So be silent, my child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me
And though oft' may My answers seem terribly late
My most precious answer of all is still, "WAIT".

Anonymous

Cast Your Cares Upon Him

I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God,

incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

Psalm 17:6

Ye people, pour out your heart before him:

God is a refuge for us.

Psalm 62:8

Whate'er the care which breaks thy rest,

Whate'er the wish that swells thy breast;

Spread before God that wish, that care,

And change anxiety to prayer.

- Jane Fox Crewdson -

Trouble and perplexity drive us to prayer, and prayer driveth away trouble and perplexity.
- Philip Melanchthon -

Whatsoever it is that presses thee, go tell thy Father; put over the matter into His hand, and so thou shalt be freed from that dividing, perplexing care that the world is full of. When thou art either to do or suffer anything, when thou art about any purpose or business, go tell
God of it , and acquaint Him with it; yea, burden Him with it, and thou hast done for matter of caring; no more care, but quiet, sweet diligence in they duty, and dependence on Him for the carriage of thy matters. Roll thy cares, and thyself with them, as one burden, all on thy God.
- Robert Leighton -

"March 14" Daily Strengths for Daily Needs, Mary W. Tileston

Do Your Duty

"My meat is to do the will of him that sent me,
and to finish his work."
John 4:34

I am glad to think
I am not bound to make the world go right;
But only to discover and to do,
With cheerful heart, the work that God appoints.
I will trust in Him,
That He can hold His own; and I will take
His will, above the work He sendeth me,
To be my chiefest good.

Jean Ingelow

I've been reading a daily devotional by Mary W. Tileston called Daily Strengths for Daily Needs. It's been so very helpful - I highly recommend it! Each day holds a page of wisdom from God's word and other writers that always meets a need, or provides encouragement in some way.