Thoughts for the Quiet Hour - August 20
By faith Noah . . . prepared an ark to the saving of his house. —Hebrews 11:7
What a humble, what a modest sphere for the exercise of faith! One would have said that the purpose was quite disproportionate to the work. The ark was a great undertaking, but what was it undertaken for? To save his own family. Is so narrow a sphere worthy to be the object of faith? Is so commonplace a scene as the life of the family circle fit to be a temple for the service of God? . . . My …
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Thoughts for the Quiet Hour - August 19
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. —John 15:4
From moment to moment, and from hour to hour, the inner nature of man is to be continuously sustained with the life of God. Only as I am constantly receiving His fullness into my emptiness am I really living in the true, full, deep sense of the word, that life of eternity, which is my privilege now, and will be …
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Thoughts for the Quiet Hour - August 18
My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. —2 Corinthians 12:9
God’s way of answering His people’s prayers is not by removing the pressure, but by increasing their strength to bear it. The pressure is often the fence between the narrow way of life and the broad road to ruin; and if our Heavenly Father were to remove it, it might be at the sacrifice of heaven. Oh, if God had removed that thorny fence in answer, often to earnest prayers, how many of us would now …
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Thoughts for the Quiet Hour - August 17
Serving the Lord with all humility of mind. —Acts 20:19
There is a legend of an artist who long sought for a piece of sandalwood, out of which to carve a Madonna. He was about to give up in despair, leaving the vision of his life unrealized, when in a dream he was bidden to carve his Madonna from a block of oak wood, which was destined for the fire. He obeyed, and produced a masterpiece from a log of common fire-wood.
Many of us lose great opportunities in life by waiting …
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Thoughts for the Quiet Hour - August 16
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. —1 Corinthians 11:1
When in the Mexican war the troops were wavering, a general rose in his stirrups and dashed into the enemy’s line, shouting, “Men, follow!” They, seeing his courage and disposition, dashed on after him, and gained the victory.
What men want to rally them for God is an example to lead them. All your commands to others to advance amount to nothing so long as you stay behind. To effect them aright, you need to start for …
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Thoughts for the Quiet Hour - August 15
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. —Exodus 20:3
If you find yourself beginning to love any pleasure better than your prayers, any book better than your Bible, any house better than God's, any table better than the Lord’s, any person better than your Savior, any one better than your soul, a present indulgence better than the hope of heaven—take alarm! —Guthrie
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Thoughts for the Quiet Hour - August 14
Leaving you an example, that ye should follow His steps. —1 Peter 2:21
I have long since ceased to pray, “Lord Jesus, have compassion on a lost world!” I remember the day and the hour when I seemed to hear the Lord rebuking me for making such a prayer. He seemed to say to me, “I have had compassion upon a lost world, and now it is for you to have compassion.” —A. J. Gordon
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Thoughts for the Quiet Hour - August 13
Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick. . . And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come He was there alone. —Matthew 14:14, 23
Do we, like Him, combine the two great elements of human character? Are our public duties, the cares, and business, and engrossments of the world, finely tempered and hallowed by a secret walk with God? If the world were to follow us from …
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Thoughts for the Quiet Hour - August 12
As for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do. —Deuteronomy 18:14
What a stepping-stone! We give thanks, often with a tearful, doubtful voice, for our spiritual mercies positive; but what an almost infinite field there is for mercies negative! We cannot even imagine all that God has suffered us not to do, not to be. —Frances Ridley Havergal
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Thoughts for the Quiet Hour - August 11
They that wait upon the LORD shall change their strength. —Isaiah 40:31
Lord, what a change within us one short hour
Spent in Thy presence will prevail to make!
What heavy burdens from our bosoms take!
What parched grounds refresh as with a shower!
We kneel—and all around us seems to lower.
We rise—and all the distant and the near
Stand forth in sunny outline, brave and clear.
We kneel—how weak: we rise—how full of power.
Why, therefore, should we do ourselves this wrong
Or others—that we are not always strong; …
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