Magnificent Prayer #325
Magnificent Prayer #325
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
1 Peter 1:8 KJV
Some people seem born with a sullen and feverish temper, and it is very difficult for them to brighten into smiles and songs. But whatever our natural disposition may be, if we belong to Christ it is our bounden duty to cultivate a thankful heart. A melancholy person has a bad effect upon others. It is miserable to have to work with or under a confirmed pessimist. Nothing is right, nothing pleases, there is no word of praise or encouragement.
Once at Aden I saw a gang of Lascars transshipping the mails. They were carrying the bags cheerily because their leader kept them singing as they did their work. If, instead of finding fault with people we would watch for things for which we could commend and thank them, we should probably find a miraculous change in their attitude.
F. B. MEYER
Pray About It: In God’s presence, our mourning is turned to joy. We may enter our prayer closets in a melancholy mood, but we shouldn’t leave without a full measure of joy. And our assignment for the rest of the day is to allow that joy to rub off on others.
Today, pray for His joy unspeakable. And then find ways to infect others with an encouraging word.
If I am asked how we are to get rid of discouragements, I can only say, as I have had to say of so many other wrong spiritual habits, we must give them up. It is never worthwhile to argue against discouragement. There is only one argument that can meet it, and that is the argument of God. When David was in the midst of what were perhaps the most discouraging moments of his life, when he had found his city burned, and his wives stolen, and he and the men with him had wept until they had no more power to weep; and when his men, exasperated at their misfortunes, spake of stoning him, then we are told, “But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God”; and the result was a magnificent victory, in which all that they had lost was more than restored to them. This always will be, and always must be the result of a courageous faith, because faith lays hold of the omnipotence of God.
HANNAH WHITALL SMITH
From the book
