Joy And Strength

[nChrist]

Author: Mary Wilder Tileston
Source: Joy and Strength
Scripture Reference 2 Samuel 22:29 Job 25:3

He Will Give Light

The Lord will lighten my darkness.
2 SAMUEL 22:29

Upon whom doth not His light arise?
JOB 25:3

HOPE, then, though woes be doubled,
Hope, and be undismayed;
Let not thy heart be troubled,
Nor let it be afraid.
This prison where thou art,
Thy God will break it soon,
And flood with light thy heart
In His own blessed noon.
PAUL GERHARDT

A CHRISTIAN may for many days together see neither sun nor star, neither light in God's countenance, nor light in his own heart, though even at that time God darts some beams through those clouds upon the soul; the soul again by a spirit of faith sees some light through those thickest clouds, enough to keep it from utter despair, though not to settle it in peace. In this dark condition, if they do as St. Paul and his company did, cast an anchor even in the dark night of temptation, and pray still for day, God will appear, and all shall clear up, we shall see light without and light within; the day-star will arise in their hearts.
RICHARD SIBBES

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Author: Mary Wilder Tileston
Source: Joy and Strength
Scripture Reference Acts 10:6

What to Do?

Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?
ACTS 10:6

EVERY task, however simple, sets the soul that does it free; Every deed of love and mercy, done to man is done to Me.
HENRY VAN DYKE

FOR each one of us, whether on a bed of pain, in feebleness and uncertainty of purpose such as comes with ill-health or overstrained nerves, or whatever else may be our immediate condition, nothing is more urgent, nothing more behooves us than to ask, "What wouldst Thou have me to do?" For, whatever our state, however helpless and incapable, however little service to God or to our neighbor seems within our power, there is no doubt at all as to His willing us to do something. Not necessarily any great thing; it may be only some little message of sympathy and comfort to carry to one even more lonely than we are; it may be some tiny pleasure to a little child, or a kindly word or glance to one whose own fault has cut him off from general kindness and pity; it may be even only in humble patience to stand and wait till He makes His will plain, abstaining the while from murmur and fretfulness; but, in some shape or other, be certain that your Master and Lord hears and will answer your question, "What wouldst Thou have me to do?"
H. L. SIDNEY LEAR

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Author: Mary Wilder Tileston
Source: Joy and Strength
Scripture Reference 1 Thessalonians 3:7

Follow Quietly

Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith.
1 THESSALONIANS 3:7

JUST as God leads I am content:
I rest me calmly in His hands;
That which He has decreed and sent--
That which His will for me commands--
I would that He should all fulfil;
That I should do His gracious will
In living or in dying.
LAMPERTUS GEDICKE

DIVINE Providence means the arrangement of all our life, not only of its bright side, but also of its dark. It may mean sickness as well as health; death as well as life; loss as well as gain; peril as well as safety; shipwreck by sea and accident by land; murrain to our flocks; sickness in our homes.
ANTHONY W. THOROLD

Howbeit your faith seeth but the black side of Providence, yet it hath a better side, and God shall let you see it. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God; hence I infer that losses, disappointments, ill tongues, loss of friends, houses or country, are God's workmen, set on work to work out good to you, out of everything that befalleth you. When the Lord's blessed will bloweth cross your desires, it is best, in humility, to strike sail to Him, and to be willing to be led any way our Lord pleaseth.
SAMUEL RUTHERFORD

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Author: Mary Wilder Tileston
Source: Joy and Strength
Scripture Reference Deuteronomy 14:29

Caused by God

That the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.

DEUTERONOMY 14:29

FIRM against every doubt of Thee
For all my future way,--
To walk in heaven's eternal light
Throughout the changing day.
Ah! such a day as Thou shalt own
When suns have ceased to shine!
A day of burdens borne by Thee,
And work that all was Thine.

ANNA L. WARING

LET us give ourselves to God without any reserve, and let us fear nothing. He will love us, and we shall love Him. His love, increasing every day, will take the place of everything else to us. He will fill our whole hearts; He will deprive us only of those things that make us unhappy. He will cause us to do in general, what we have been doing already, but which we have done in an unsatisfactory manner; whereas, hereafter, we shall do them well, because they will be done for His sake. Even the smallest actions of a simple and common life will be turned to consolation and recompense. We shall meet the approach of death in peace; it will be changed for us into the beginning of the immortal life.

FRANCOIS DE LA MOTHE FÉNELON

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Author: Mary Wilder Tileston
Source: Joy and Strength
Scripture Reference 2 Thessalonians 3:12

Live in Peace

We command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ that with quietness they work.

2 THESSALONIANS 3:12

THERE is an order in our daily life,
Like that the holy angels constant keep;
And though its outward show seems but a strife,
There dwells within a peace like oceans deep.

JONES VERY

THE enemy of that grand central habit of interior patience is haste: haste of thought, haste of judgment, haste of manner, haste of speech. Even natural powers of every kind become true strength, when they work submissively and harmoniously under the direction of Divine light and the movement of Divine grace; and this disciplined subjection at every point under the dominion of Christ our Lord, ruling us by His grace, makes the soul the serene organ of the Holy Spirit, for the animating, controlling, and guiding of our souls.

WILLIAM BERNARD ULLATHORNE

We are conformed to Him in proportion as our lives grow in quietness, His peace spreading within our souls. Even amid all that outwardly disturbs us we have, if we have Him, the same peace, because He is our peace, sustaining our whole being.

T. T.CARTER

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Author: Mary Wilder Tileston
Source: Joy and Strength
Scripture Reference Isaiah 51:3

Useful Life

Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

ISAIAH 51:3

If thou art living a righteous and a useful life, doing thy duty orderly and cheerfully where God has put thee, then thou art making sweeter melody in the ears of the Lord Jesus Christ, than if thou hadst the throat of a nightingale; for then thou in thy humble place art copying the everlasting harmony and melody which is in heaven.

CHARLES KINGSLEY

IN proportion as the perfect obedience of the life of Christ comes, through humility and prayer and thought, to be the constant aim of all our efforts; in proportion as we try, God helping us, to think and speak and act as He did, and through all the means of grace to sanctify Him in our hearts; we shall, with growing hope and with a wonder that is ever lost in gratitude, know that even our lives are not without the earnest of their rest in an eternal harmony; that through them there is sounding more and more the echo of a faultless music: and that He who loves that concord, He who alone can ever make us what He bids us be, will silence in us every harsh and jarring note; that our service too may blend with the consenting praise of all His Saints and Angels.

FRANCIS PAGET

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Author: Mary Wilder Tileston
Source: Joy and Strength
Scripture Reference Ecclesiastes 19:1 1 Corinthians 16:13

Strong to the End

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
1 CORINTHIANS 16:13

STAND then in His great might,
With all His strength endued;
But take, to arm you for the fight,
The panoply of God.
Leave no unguarded place,
No weakness of the soul;
Take every virtue, every grace,
And fortify the whole.
CHARLES WESLEY

LET every one consider what his weak point is; in that is his trial. His trial is not in those things which are easy to him, but in that one thing, in those several things, whatever they are, in which to do his duty is against his nature. Never think yourself safe because you do your duty in ninety-nine points; it is the hundredth which is to be the ground of your self-denial. It is with reference to this you must watch and pray; pray continually for God's grace to help you, and watch with fear and trembling lest you fall. Oh that you may (as it were) sweep the house diligently to discover what you lack of the full measure of obedience! for, be quite sure, that this apparently small defect will influence your whole spirit and judgment in all things.
JOHN HENRY NEWMAN

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Author: Mary Wilder Tileston
Source: Joy and Strength
Scripture Reference 1 Corinthians 1:9

Divine Nature in Me

God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 CORINTHIANS 1:9

GIVE me a new, a perfect heart,
>From doubt, and fear, and sorrow free;
The mind which was in Christ impart,
And let my spirit cleave to Thee.
CHARLES WESLEY

SINCE I attained to a clear consciousness, by inward experience, that there is no way of satisfying the needs of the soul, or tranquillizing the heart's longings, but by the inner life in Christ, I am aware of an increase of power for the work of my calling, whatever it be, and of joy and spirit in performing it.
CHRISTIAN K. J. BUNSEN

In my daily life I am to ask "How would Christ have acted in my circumstances? How would He have me act? How would Christ fulfil my duties, do my work, fill my place, meet my difficulties, turn to account all my capacities and opportunities?" This is to be the law and inspiration of my whole life; not only of my outward acts, but of all my inward thoughts and desires. There is to be a manifestation of the Divine Nature in me.
A. C. A. HALL

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Author: Mary Wilder Tileston
Source: Joy and Strength
Scripture Reference John 15:15 1 John 2:5

Be His Friend

Whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected; hereby know we that we are in Him.
2 John 5

I have called you friends.
JOHN 15:15

THE hands that tend the sick tend Christ; the willing feet that go on errands of love, work for Christ; the words of comfort to the sorrowful, and of sympathy to the mourner, are spoken in the name of Christ--Christ comforts the world through His friends. How much have you done for Him? What sort of a friend have you been to Him? God is working through His people; Christ is succoring through His friends--it is the vacancies in the ranks of His friends wherein the mischief lies: come and fill one gap.
ARTHUR F. WINNINGTON INGRAM

IT is true that love cannot be forced, that it cannot be made to order, that we cannot love because we ought, or even because we want. But we can bring ourselves into the presence of the lovable. We can enter into Friendship through the door of Discipleship; we can learn love through service; and the day will come to us also, when the Master's word will be true, "I call you no longer servant, but friend."
HUGH BLACK

Through His will, loved and done, lies the path to His love.
ANDREW MURRAY

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Author: Mary Wilder Tileston
Source: Joy and Strength
Scripture Reference 1 Corinthians 15:57

By His Side

Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:57

KEEP close to Christ, if conflict sore betide;
Stand fast, remembering He is at your side
To give you strength
In battle, and the victor's palm at length.
German, tr. by FRANCES E.COX

IF we would endeavor, like men of courage, to stand in the battle, surely we should feel the favorable assistance of God from heaven. For He who giveth us occasion to fight, to the end we may get the victory, is ready to succor those that fight manfully, and do trust in His grace.
THOMAS À. KEMPIS

He will give the victory into thy hands, if only thou wilt fight manfully by His side, trusting not in thyself, but in His power and goodness. And if the Lord delay awhile to give thee the victory, be not disheartened, but believe assuredly (and this will also help thee to fight resolutely) that He will turn all things which may befall thee, those even which to thee may seem farthest removed from, yea, most adverse to thy success, all will He turn to thy good and profit, if thou wilt but bear thyself as a faithful and generous warrior.
LORENZO SCUPOLI

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Author: Mary Wilder Tileston
Source: Joy and Strength
Scripture Reference Genesis 4:19-20

Doing His Will

He saith unto them, Follow me . . . and they straightway left their nets, and followed Him.
MATTHEW 4:19,20

JESUS calls us; o'er the tumult
Of our life's wild, restless sea,
Day by day His sweet voice soundeth,
Saying, "Christian, follow me."
As of old St. Andrew heard it
By the Galilean lake,
Turned from home, and toil, and kindred,
Leaving all for His dear sake.
CECIL F. ALEXANDER

THE will of God will be done; but, oh, the unspeakable loss for us if we have missed our opportunity of doing it!
BROOKE FOSS WESTCOTT

God, who calleth us, Himself gives us the strength to obey His call. He who is with us now to call us, will be ever present with us, in all whereto He calleth us. All in His purpose and love, every degree of grace and glory, lies wrapped up in His next call. All eternity of bliss and the love of God will, through His grace, forecoming, accompanying, following, lie in one strong, earnest, undivided, giving of thy whole self to God, to do in thee, through thee, with thee, His gracious, loving will.
EDWARD B. PUSEY

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Author: Mary Wilder Tileston
Source: Joy and Strength
Scripture Reference 2 Chronicles 32:7-8

God is on Our Side

Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed; with us is the Lord our God, to help us, and to fight our battles.
2 CHRONICLES 32:7,8

WE fling aside the weight and sin,
Resolved the victory to win;
No shrinking from the desperate fight,
No thought of yielding or of flight;
With the brave heart and steady eye,
We onward march to victory.
HORATIUS SONAR

IF you, your heart, your will, are enlisted on the good side, if you are wishing and trying that the good in you should conquer the bad, then you are on the side of God Himself, and God is on your side; and "if God be for us, who shall be against us?" Take courage, then. If thou dislikest thy sins, so does God. If thou art fighting against thy worst feelings, so is God. On thy side is God who made all, and Christ who died for all, and the Holy Spirit who alone gives wisdom purity, nobleness. How canst thou fail when He is on thy side? On thy side are all spirits of just men made perfect, all wise and good souls in earth and heaven, all good and wholesome influences, whether of nature or of grace, of matter or of mind. How canst thou fail if they are on thy side? CHARLES KINGSLEY

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Author: Mary Wilder Tileston
Source: Joy and Strength
Scripture Reference John 15:11

Looking Up To Jesus

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
JOHN 15:11

THOU bringest all again; with Thee
Is light, is space, is breadth and room
For each thing fair, beloved, and free,
To have its hour of life and bloom.
Each heart's deep instinct unconfessed;
Each lowly wish, each daring claim;
All, all that life hath long repressed,
Unfolds, undreading blight or blame.
DORA GREENWELL

LET us offer up to Him each day, and all its occupations, yes, and all its relaxations--as it begins, --and beg Him to let us somehow "see" Him throughout it. Let us trust Him with the hallowing of our ordinary "secular" interests, let us try to shape each day's life so as best to please Him. "Would our Lord like me to say this or to read that? Would He sanction this train of thought or of fancy? When I go with that companion, can I imagine His drawing near and walking beside us?" This habitual "looking up to Jesus," this repeated reference to His will and pleasure--does it seem to us likely to be oppressive, restrictive, burdensome? Let us only try it, and judge for ourselves: it will turn out to be a source of peace and comfort indescribable.
WILLIAM BRIGHT

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Author: Mary Wilder Tileston
Source: Joy and Strength
Scripture Reference Psalms 63:7

The Right to Joy

Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.
PSALMS 63:7

ON our way rejoicing gladly let us go;
Conquered hath our Leader, vanquished is our foe!
Christ without, our safety! Christ within, our joy!
Who, if we be faithful, can our hope destroy?
On our way rejoicing as we homeward move,
Hearken to our praises, O Thou God of love!
J. B. S. MONSELL

I CANNOT understand why those who have given themselves up to God and His goodness are not always cheerful, for what possible happiness can be equal to that? No accidents or imperfections which may happen ought to have power to trouble them, or to hinder their looking upward.
ST. FRANCIS DE SALES

Why should we go to heaven weeping, as if we were like to fall down through the earth for sorrow? If God were dead (if I may speak so, with reverence of Him who liveth for ever and ever,) we might have cause to look like dead folks; but "the Lord liveth, and blessed be the Rock of our salvation." None have right to joy but we; for joy is sown for us, and an ill summer or harvest will not spill the crop.
SAMUEL RUTHERFORD

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Author: Mary Wilder Tileston
Source: Joy and Strength
Scripture Reference Ephesians 1:18-19

Let Jesus In

That ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe.
EPHESIANS 1:18,19

THOU dost well,
And my heaven is here and now,
Day-star of my soul, if Thou
Wilt but deign in me to dwell.
WOLFGANG C. DESSLER

THROW open all the windows of your soul to the influence of Jesus. By prayer, thought, and action, let His divine power move in and through your life; and be sure that a mighty work is within His power and your possibility. Not that of lifting you into ordinary spiritual vitality, but of transforming you through and through with His Spirit.
WILLIAM LAWRENCE

The life which we are meant to lead under the dispensation of the Spirit who has been given for our guidance into Truth, is one which does not take us out of the world, but keeps us from its evil, enabling us to live a heavenly existence on earth, and so to span over the chasm which divides us from heaven.
EDWARD THRING

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