December 31 “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.” (1 Samuel 7:12.) THE word “hitherto” seems like a hand pointing in the direction of the past. Twenty years or seventy, and yet “hitherto hath the Lord helped us!” Through poverty, through wealth, through sickness, through health; at home, abroad, on theRead More …

December 30 “Peter was kept in prison: but prayer (instant and earnest prayer) was made for him.” (Acts 12:5, margin.) PETER was in prison awaiting his execution. The Church had neither human power nor influence to save him. There was no earthly help, but there was help to be obtainedRead More …

December 29 “Arise… for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good; and are ye still? Be not slothful to go, and enter to possess the land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of anything that is inRead More …

December 28 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Phil. 4:4.) “Sing a little song of trust, O my heart! Sing it just because you must, As leaves start; As flowers push their way through dust; Sing, my heart, because you must. “Wait not for an eagerRead More …

December 27 “His soul entered into iron.” (Psalm 105:18.) TURN, that about and render it in our language, and it reads thus, “Iron entered his soul.” Is there not a truth in this? That sorrow and privation, the yoke borne in the youth, the soul’s enforced restraint, are all conduciveRead More …

December 26 “Sit ye here while I go and pray yonder.” (Matt. 26:36.) OT is a hard thing to be kept in the background at a time of crisis. In the Garden of Gethsemane eight of the eleven disciples were left to do nothing. Jesus went to the front toRead More …

December 25 “His name shall be called Emmanuel…. God with us.” (Matt. 1:23.) “The Prince of Peace.” (Isa. 9:6.) “There’s a song in the air! There’s a star in the sky! There’s a mother’s deep prayer, And a baby’s low cry! And the star rains its fire While the beautifulRead More …

December 24 “And Isaac went out to meditate in the fields at eventide.” (Gen. 24:63.) WE should be better Christians if we were more alone; we should do more if we attempted less, and spent more time in retirement, and quiet waiting upon God. The world is too much withRead More …

December 23 “The journey is too great for thee.” (1 King 19:7.) AND what did God do with His tired servant? Gave him something good to eat, and put him to sleep. Elijah had done splendid work, and had run alongside of the chariot in his excitement, and it hadRead More …

December 22 “Lo, a horror of great darkness fell upon him.” (Gen. 15:12.) THE sun at last went down, and the swift, eastern night cast its heavy veil over the scene. Worn out with the mental conflict, the watchings, and the exertions of the day, Abraham fell into a deepRead More …