Morning By Morning #354

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

Proverbs 16:33

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

If the Lord controls “the lot cast into the lap,” what about our lives in total? If He guides even the simple casting of a lot, imagine how much more He must guide the events of our entire life, especially in light of our blessed Savior’s words: “Not one [sparrow] will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matt. 10:29 – 30).

Believer, always remembering this will bring a holy calm to your mind. It will so relieve you from anxiety, you will be better enabled to walk in patience, quiet, and cheerfulness as all Christians should. When you are anxious you cannot pray in faith, and when you are troubled by the things of the world you cannot serve your Master, for your thoughts are only of serving yourself. Yet if you would “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,…all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:33). When you worry about your circumstances and lot in life, you are meddling in Christ’s business and neglecting your own. This is nothing but attempting to provide what only God can provide while forgetting your role is only to obey. Thus, be wise and focus on obeying and let Christ handle the providing.

Go to your Father’s storehouse and ask if He will really let you starve when it is overflowing with abundance. Examine His heart of mercy and see if it can ever prove to be unkind! Look at His unfathomable wisdom and see if it can ever be in error. Yet above all, look to Jesus Christ, your Intercessor who pleads your case, and ask yourself: “Can my Father ever be ungracious toward me?”

If He remembers even a sparrow, will He ever forget one of “the least” (Matt. 25:45) of His poor children? “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall” (Ps. 55:22).

My soul, rest happy in thy low estate,

Nor hope nor wish to be esteemed or great;

To take the imprint of the Will Divine,

Be that thy glory, and those riches thine.

Madame Jeanne-Marie Guyon, 1648 – 1717

Translated from French by William Cowper, 1731 – 1800

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

“His Eye Is on the Sparrow,” the hymn written in 1905 by Civilla D. Martin (1866 – 1948) and Charles H. Gabriel (1856 – 1932), wonderfully complements Spurgeon’s thoughts today:

Why should I feel discouraged,

why should the shadows fall,

Why should my heart be troubled,

when all but hope is gone?

When Jesus is my fortress;

my constant friend is He.

His eye is on the Sparrow,

and I know He watches me.

I sing because I’m happy,

I sing because I’m free,

For His eye is on the sparrow,

and I know He watches me.