Finding Yourself in a Place You Thought You’d Never Be…

David had backslidden and found himself in a place where he thought he would never be.  He was among the ungodly Philistines and preparing for war against God's people. By God's grace he was rejected by the Philistines.  He goes back to his city and finds that the Amalekites had attacked and burned it with fire.  They had also taken their wives, sons and daughters captive.  1 Samuel 27 tells us that David had done much worse to those cities he had attacked....in comparison to David, the  Amalekites were merciful.

David would save neither man nor woman alive, to bring news to Gath, saying, "Lest they should inform on us, saying, 'Thus David did.' " And thus was his behavior all the time he dwelt in the country of the Philistines.—1 Samuel 27:11

David was distressed and the people thought of stoning him because their souls were so very grieved at their loss.  David has reached his lowest point but what an example he is for us!  What do we read that David does?  He turns to God for strength...

"But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God."

AND GOD IN HIS MERCY AND GRACE GIVES DAVID THE GUIDANCE HE NEEDED!  God in his mercy allowed David to hit rock bottom.  He knew what it would take for David to turn back to Him...God does the same for us.  He removes those things we are trusting in instead of Him until we have no other place to turn.   I am very thankful for the trials my God has brought me because in them and through them the Lord has turned my heart towards Him.  My trials have made me look up.  O Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.  Trust in him at all times you people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

Ending with Psalm 118:

I called on the LORD in distress;

The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.

The LORD is on my side;

I will not fear.

What can man do to me?

It is better to trust in the LORD

Than to put confidence in man.

It is better to trust in the LORD

Than to put confidence in princes.—Psalm 118: 5-6;8-9

Two more….

He gives power to the weak,

And to those who have no might He increases strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,

And the young men shall utterly fall, 

But those who wait on the LORD

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.—Isaiah 40:29-31

but He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness." Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me. 10 So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God's strength]—2 Corinthians 12:9-10 AMPLIFIED VERSION

Becoming More Like Jesus…

 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.—Romans 10:1

I have been thinking on this verse now for several days.  At first I was convicted because reading the cross reference verses made me realize just how far short I fall in loving and sympathizing with those around me.  

I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.—Romans 9:1-5

If it were possible, Paul would rather go to hell and suffer eternally if by that His Jewish brethren could be saved. Pretty convicting…. Moses had a similar heart:

Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written."—Exodus 32:31-32

As I continued thinking, however, my heart was also encouraged because it became clear to me that Paul’s desire and prayer for Israel did not come from Paul…they came from the Lord.  God’s desires became Paul’s desires simply because Paul delighted in His God with a single-minded devotion. For Paul..to live was Christ and to die was gain.  He trusted God to use all that happened to him…the good, the bad and the ugly…to further God’s sovereign plans. 

As Paul prayed for the nation who rejected him, misunderstood him, persecuted him and hated him, the Spirit of God produced and shed abroad His supernatural love in Paul’s heart enabling him to love Israel with God’s perfect love.  The true spirit of Christianity is that of love and sympathy. It leads to prayer even for persecutors and to hope for even the most hard hearted and hard to love people in our own lives.  Paul’s words also made me remember these words from Jesus. 

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!

Here is where this verse became not just convicting but also eminently practical for me. As I obey the Spirit of God and pray for the people around me, God works a miracle in my heart. He takes my unlovely, critical, cynical and bitter thoughts toward both my enemies and my friends and in return gives me His love, compassion and right desires for them. He releases me from the prison of making another’s attitude (good or bad) about me. I don’t have to argue with them or analyze them. I can simply bless them by praying for them and in the process my own heart changes. Like Jesus, I begin to care about them. By His Spirit, my heart fills with love, unites with theirs and begins to love them by desiring God’s best for them.  

Beloved, Jesus was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed. And yet, He prays for us continually. Be like Jesus. 

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.—Hebrews 4:14-16

Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.—Hebrews 7:25

So he answered and said, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'"

And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live."—Luke 10:27-28

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,—Matthew 5:44

For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.—John 6:38

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him—Colossians 3:12-17

Spurgeon on Psalm 37:5

Commit your way to the LORD,

Trust also in Him,

And He shall bring it to pass.—Psalm 37:5

Commit thy way unto the Lord. Roll the whole burden of life upon the Lord. Leave with Jehovah not thy present fretfulness merely, but all thy cares; in fact, submit the whole tenor of thy way to him. Cast away anxiety, resign thy will, submit thy judgment, leave all with the God of all. What a medicine is this for expelling envy! What a high attainment does this fourth precept indicate! How blessed must he be who lives every day in obedience to it! Trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Our destiny shall be joyfully accomplished if we confidently entrust all to our Lord. We may serenely sing— 

"Thy way, not mine, O Lord, 

However dark it be; 

O lead me by thine own right hand, 

Choose out the path for me." 

"Smooth let it be or rough, 

It will be still the best; 

Winding or straight, 

it matters not, It leads me to thy rest." 

"I dare not choose my lot, 

I would not if I might; 

But choose Thou for me, O my God, 

So shall I walk aright." 

"Take thou my cup, and it With joy or sorrow fill; 

As ever best to thee may seem, 

Choose thou my good and ill." 

The ploughman sows and harrows, and then leaves the harvest to God. What can he do else? He cannot cover the heavens with clouds, or command the rain, or bring forth the sun or create the dew. He does well to leave the whole matter with God; and so to all of us it is truest wisdom, having obediently trusted in God, to leave results in his hands, and expect a blessed issue. 

Spurgeon on Truth…

 The lip of truth shall be established for ever but a lying tongue is but for a moment.—Proverbs 12:19

Truth wears well.  Time tests it, but it right well endures the trial.  If, then, I have spoken the truth, and have for the present to suffer for it, I must be content to wait.  If also I believe the truth of God, and endeavor to declare it, I may meet with much opposition, but I need not fear, for ultimately the truth must prevail.

What a poor thing is the temporary triumph of falsehood!  A lying tongue is but for a moment!  It is a mere gourd, which comes up in a night and perishes in a night and the greater its development the more manifest its decay.  On the other hand, how worthy of an immortal being is the avowal and defense of that truth which can never change; the everlasting gospel, which is established in the immutable truth of an unchanging God!  An old proverb saith, He that speaks truth shames the devil.  Assuredly he that speaks the truth of God will put to shame all the devils in hell, and confound all the seed of the serpent which now hiss out their falsehoods.

O my heart, take care that thou be in all things on the side of truth, both in small things and great; but specially, on the side of him by who grace and truth have come among men!

On Remembering to Pray…

 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, "Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand." So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.—Exodus 17:8-13

These verses served as such a good reminder for me last night.  When prayer becomes weak everything weakens. The Christian life is a battlefield…and the battles we fight are not ours but the Lords. A life without prayer is a life without power. Without prayer there will be no victory. Without the Spirit of God’s help, we are hopeless, helpless and easily defeated.  He, unlike us, does not faint or grow weary. He is never discouraged. 

Beloved…We can’t do this life alone.  We need to pray…not just once in the morning or once in the evening but continually throughout our day.  We need to pray not only for the battles that we face, but also for the ones our brothers and sisters in Christ face. Our enemy is strong, and he is relentless.  When Moses hands grew tired, Aaron and Hur steadied and supported them.  May we do the same for one another. 

Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.—Hebrews 12:12-13

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.—Romans 8:26-27

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—Ephesians 6:10-18

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Have you not known?

Have you not heard?

The everlasting God, the LORD,

The Creator of the ends of the earth,

Neither faints nor is weary.

His understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the weak,

And to those who have no might He increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary,

And the young men shall utterly fall,

But those who wait on the LORD

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.—Isaiah 40:28-31

Father…Forgive me. So often I go about my day as if You are not there…as if Your help is not available for the asking or Your guidance is not desperately needed.  You would think the condition of my back and neck when I awake in the morning would remind me of my weakness and need.  Sadly, most days it just makes me grown and complain instead of crying out to You to be my strength.  Lord, use my insufficiency, my weakness and also my pain to remind me of my constant need for You.  Help me to remember to pray and intercede on behalf of those whom Your Spirit places on my heart. O help me to be faithful!   Help me to do as David tells us to do in Proverbs 3.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.—Proverbs 3:5-6

God’s Sovereign Care and Love

 Chapters 3 and 4 of the book of Joshua were some convicting chapters of Scripture for me.  What a reminder of God's sovereign care and love for His people.  What a reminder to me who, like the Israelites, often needs memorial stones to remember the wonderful things God has done and still does in my life.  God wants us to set up these memorials.  He wants us to rejoice in Him always.  He wants us to do this not just for us either...but for the generation that will come after us. 

He desires us to talk to our children about the marvelous things He has done in our lives.  He wants us to show them how the Lord blessed the teeny tiny steps of faith we took....He wants them also to know that when we took these teeny tiny steps of faith and got our feet wet in the waters of the Jordan...THE WATERS DID NOT overflow us AND that throughout it all OUR GOD WAS WITH US.  He wants them to know that it was not anything we did, but it was the Lord our God who did it all.  He was the One who performed all things for us and made all that concerned us perfect. 

The Lord was with Joshua and He is with us. The Lord exalted Him in the sight of all in Israel and when we obey Him and wait on Him as Joshua did, He lifts us up.   I love that as their leader Joshua spoke words of faith to the people God had placed in his charge.  Read them now:

And Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you."--Joshua 4:5

Wow...what a great thing for your kids to go to bed hearing.  Take a shower, brush your teeth ...tomorrow the Lord is going to do wonders among us.  Be ready for it...look for it!

Too often my kids hear me grumble and complain.  Too often they hear a lack of thankfulness in both my words and my attitude.  How much better if  I magnified my Lord.  How much better if my words and my actions matched always with what I claim to believe.  The faith of all those around me would be strengthened.  God wants lives committed completely and utterly to Him...He desires living sacrifices that glorify Him in both word and deed.  He wants us to dwell on those things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report...He wants us to meditate on the praiseworthy.

As a believer, I can thank God in all things.  In trials I can remember that He works all together for good and that His goodness and mercy follow me wherever He leads.  In good times I can remember that also.    I can sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to those around me always, because my past has been forgiven.  My present is in Him who I can go boldly before to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  My future is secured in heaven.  Things may look pretty dark at times, but in reality, I am blessed in the heavenlies by a Father who holds all good things in His hand that is forever  stretched out in love toward me. 

Praying that my kids today can look to my example and anticipate the wonderful things God can and will do in their lives also. 

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, the Father, through Him.--Colossians 3:17

Only By His Amazing Grace…

 Deal bountifully with Your servant,

That I may live and keep Your word.—Psalm 119:17

I went about my evening last night thinking on this verse and praying that the Spirit would help me to understand its meaning. Before I went to bed, I looked up some cross reference verses.  As I read them the Spirit enlightened my eyes and confirmed what I had been thinking. 

David prays here for God to deal bountifully with Him…according to His goodness and not according to his merit. This is such a good prayer.  Beloved…in truth, unless the Lord deals bountifully with us…there is nothing…not one thing we can do in our own strength to serve the Lord. We cannot even take our next breath unless His grace makes it possible.  

Without His mighty life sustaining grace, we are dead in our trespasses and sin. It is His grace that saved us.  It is grace that preserves us.  It is His grace that enables us to obey Him and it is…as the song says…His grace that leads us home.  

I was comforted as I went to sleep. David’s words reminded me of what my heart already knows.  There is nothing good in me.  Anything that is good is of God and not of me.  I AM NOT sufficient for this life. I was not meant to be   My God, however, who lives in me, is. As I surrender to His gracious Spirit, I am filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, (not by me) to the glory and praise of my God.  I can return to my rest because He has dealt bountifully with me!  It is God who works in me both to do and to will for His good pleasure. He will complete the good work He began in me.  I just need to surrender and let Him do it. 

And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, Who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.


Words: John Newton (1779)

Following Hard After God - Psalm 63

 A Psalm of David When He Was in the Wilderness of Judah.  

O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. But those who seek my life, to destroy it, Shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword; They shall be a portion for jackals.  But the king shall rejoice in God; Everyone who swears by Him shall glory; But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped. —Psalm 63

To My Precious Daughters... 

Oh God, You are my God.  David always personalizes his relationship with his God!  I, following his example, do the same.  He is my God.  How sweet these words are to me when I say them.  I belong to Him...He belongs to me.  All His promises are mine.  All His love and care are mine.  I have the richest of what heaven and earth have to offer even now!  I have HIM!!  He has redeemed me and called me by name.   Hour by hour He supplies my needs.  He guides and upholds my every step.  When I rest on Him, He does not fail.  When I trust in Him, my trust is not in vain.  He delivers me out of all my troubles...He does not leave me in deep waters, nor do the flames that surround, burn me.  He is always with me. No one, not even me, can snatch me out of His hands.  Nothing..NOTHING... can separate me from Him.  He is my treasure.  In Him I live and move and have my being.  He is my all sufficient God.  Sufficient for my every need.  He keeps me as a King keeps His jewels...My God, will never for a moment forget me.

David sought God early and always.  His thirst like a physical thirst would be heard.  He was in a weary land and had a weary heart...His desire was to be in the presence of His God.  He looked for Him in the sanctuary.  He looked for Him everywhere and would not be distracted.  He followed hard after Him, knowing  His lovingkindness was better than life itself.  David followed at His God's heels...he did not let him out of his sight.  The withdrawal of the light of His countenance was as the shadow of death to David.  He knew that without the hand of His God upholding him, he would soon fall. He knew that everything he needed was in Him!  

I want to long after God as David did.  I want to follow hard after Him...to look for Him everywhere and to have eyes to see His hand in everything!  Life here on earth is temporary...our God and His mercy are from everlasting to everlasting.  I want my soul to be satisfied feasting, as David did, on the marrow and fatness of my God.  I want His shade to be my sweet, sweet resting place.  As I meditate on Him in the night, I pray that He brings to mind all the times He has delivered and that in my weakness I will  remember that in Him who is sufficient, I have everything I need. 

Sadly, however, David knew that because he did follow closely after God that there would be people who would want to destroy God's work of grace in His life.  As David sought His God, they earnestly sought his ruin.   David was a man with many enemies.  But he knew that his enemies would fade and he would flourish.  He knew that they would fall and be victims of their own wicked schemes.  The pit dug for David, they themselves would fall into.  The hell they prepared for David would swallow them up.   He knew they were destined for destruction so he would continue then to rejoice in His God.  It is so important to remember this.  We do not war against flesh and blood, but against prinicipalites and powers.  When you follow hard after God, there will be some that will follow just as hard after you in an attempt to destroy your witness for Him...to ruin His work of grace in your life.  THEY WILL NOT SUCCEED.  The Lord looks at them and laughs...He holds them in derision.  He sees there end.  Know that God has His banner of love on you.  His mercy to you will not fail.  He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your justice as the noon day!  I love what Spurgeon notes here:  The mouth of those who speak lies will be stopped but the mouth that speaks praises to God will sing forever!

Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth. 

Love

Mom

Spurgeon on Psalm 37:5

Commit your way to the LORD,

Trust also in Him,

And He shall bring it to pass.

Commit thy way unto the Lord. Roll the whole burden of life upon the Lord. Leave with Jehovah not thy present fretfulness merely, but all thy cares; in fact, submit the whole tenor of thy way to him. Cast away anxiety, resign thy will, submit thy judgment, leave all with the God of all. What a medicine is this for expelling envy! What a high attainment does this fourth precept indicate! How blessed must he be who lives every day in obedience to it! 

Trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Our destiny shall be joyfully accomplished if we confidently entrust all to our Lord. We may serenely sing—

"Thy way, not mine, O Lord, 

However dark it be; 

O lead me by thine own right hand, 

Choose out the path for me." 

"Smooth let it be or rough, 

It will be still the best; 

Winding or straight, 

it matters not, It leads me to thy rest." 

"I dare not choose my lot, 

I would not if I might; 

But choose Thou for me, O my God, 

So shall I walk aright." 

"Take thou my cup, and it With joy or sorrow fill; 

As ever best to thee may seem, 

Choose thou my good and ill." 

The ploughman sows and harrows, and then leaves the harvest to God. What can he do else? He cannot cover the heavens with clouds, or command the rain, or bring forth the sun or create the dew. He does well to leave the whole matter with God; and so to all of us it is truest wisdom, having obediently trusted in God, to leave results in his hands, and expect a blessed issue.