Daily Strength for Daily Needs - Mary Wilder Tileston

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was, I shrank from what was right,

       From fear of what was wrong;

       I would not brave the sacred fight,

       Because the foe was strong.

      But now I cast that finer sense

       And sorer shame aside;

       Such dread of sin was indolence,

       Such aim at heaven was pride.

      J. H. NEWMAN.

      If he falls into some error, he does not fret over it, but rising up with a humble spirit, he goes on his way anew rejoicing. Were he to fall a hundred times in the day, he would not despair—he would rather cry out lovingly to God, appealing to His tender pity. The really devout man has a horror of evil, but he has a still greater love of that which is good; he is more set on doing what is right, than avoiding what is wrong. Generous, large-hearted, he is not afraid of danger in serving God, and would rather run the risk of doing His will imperfectly than not strive to serve Him lest he fail in the attempt.

      JEAN NICOLAS GROU.

      February 10

      We have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.—ISA. xxv. 9.

      Blest are the humble souls that wait

       With sweet submission to His will;

       Harmonious all their passions move,

       And in the midst of storms are still.

      P. DODDRIDGE.

      Do not be discouraged at your faults; bear with yourself in correcting them, as you would with your neighbor. Lay aside this ardor of mind, which exhausts your body, and leads you to commit errors. Accustom yourself gradually to carry prayer into all your daily occupations. Speak, move, work, in peace, as if you were in prayer, as indeed you ought to be. Do everything without excitement, by the spirit of grace. As soon as you perceive your natural impetuosity gliding in, retire quietly within, where is the kingdom of God. Listen to the leadings of grace, then say and do nothing but what the Holy Spirit shall put in your heart. You will find that you will become more tranquil, that your words will be fewer and more effectual, and that, with less effort, you will accomplish more good.

      FRANÇOIS DE LA MOTHE FÉNELON.

      February 11

      I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do.—JOHN xvii. 4.

      She hath done what she could.—MARK xiv. 8.

      He who God's will has borne and done,

       And his own restless longings stilled,

       What else he does, or has foregone,

       His mission he has well fulfilled.

      FROM THE GERMAN.

      Cheered by the presence of God, I will do at each moment, without anxiety, according to the strength which He shall give me, the work that His Providence assigns me. I will leave the rest without concern; it is not my affair. I ought to consider the duty to which I am called each day, as the work that God has given me to do, and to apply myself to it in a manner worthy of His glory, that is to say, with exactness and in peace. I must neglect nothing; I must be violent about nothing.

      FRANÇOIS DE LA MOTHE FÉNELON.

      It is thy duty oftentimes to do what thou wouldst not; thy duty, too, to leave undone what thou wouldst do.

      THOMAS À KEMPIS.

      February 12

      Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits.—PS. lxviii. 19.

      Nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.—I TIM. vi. 17.

      Source of my life's refreshing springs,

       Whose presence in my heart sustains me,

       Thy love ordains me pleasant things,

       Thy mercy orders all that pains me.

      A. L. WARING.

      And to be true, and speak my soul, when I survey the occurrences of my life, and call into account the finger of God, I can perceive nothing but an abyss and mass of mercies, either in general to mankind, or in particular to myself; and whether out of the prejudice of my affection, or an inverting and partial conceit of His mercies, I know not; but those which others term crosses, afflictions, judgments, misfortunes, to me who inquire farther into them than their visible effects, they both appear, and in event have ever proved, the secret and dissembled favors of His affection.

      SIR T. BROWNE.

      February 13

      Let Him do to me as seemeth good unto Him.—2 SAM. xv. 26.

      To have, each day, the thing I wish,

       Lord, that seems best to me;

       But not to have the thing I wish,

       Lord, that seems best to Thee.

       Most truly, then, Thy will is done,

       When mine, O Lord, is crossed;

       It is good to see my plans o'erthrown,

       My ways in Thine all lost.

      H. BONAR.

      O Lord, Thou knowest what is best for us; let this or that be done, as Thou shalt please. Give what Thou wilt, and how much Thou wilt, and when Thou wilt. Deal with me as Thou thinkest good. Set me where Thou wilt, and deal with me in all things just as Thou wilt. Behold, I am Thy servant, prepared for all things: for I desire not to live unto myself, but unto Thee; and oh, that I could do it worthily and perfectly!

      THOMAS À KEMPIS.

      Dare to look up to God, and say, "Make use of me for the future as Thou wilt. I am of the same mind; I am one with Thee. I refuse nothing which seems good to Thee. Lead me whither Thou wilt, clothe me in whatever dress Thou wilt. Is it Thy will that I should be in a public or a private condition, dwell here, or be banished, be poor or rich? Under all these circumstances, I will testify unto Thee before men."

      EPICTETUS.

      February 14

      I would have you without carefulness.—I COR. vii. 32.

      O Lord, how happy should we be

       If we could cast our care on Thee,

       If we from self could rest;

       And feel at heart that One above,

       In perfect wisdom, perfect love,

       Is working for the best.

      J. ANSTICE.

      Cast all thy care on God. See that all thy cares be such as thou canst cast on God, and then hold none back. Never brood over thyself; never stop short in thyself; but cast thy whole self, even this very care which distresseth thee, upon God. Be not anxious about little things, if thou wouldst learn to trust God with thine all. Act upon faith in little things; commit thy daily cares and anxieties to Him; and He will strengthen thy faith for any greater trials. Rather, give thy whole self into God's hands, and so trust Him to take care of thee in all lesser things, as being His, for His own sake, whose thou art.

      E. B. PUSEY.

      February

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