Daily Strength for Daily Needs | Page 3

dull, The
baffled hopes, the impulse slow, Thou takest, touchest all, and lo! They blossom to the
beautiful.
SUSAN COOLIDGE.
A root set in the finest soil, in the best climate, and blessed with all that sun and air and
rain can do for it, is not in so sure a way of its growth to perfection, as every man may be,
whose spirit aspires after all that which God is ready and infinitely desirous to give him.
For the sun meets not the springing bud that stretches towards him with half that certainty,
as God, the source of all good, communicates Himself to the soul that longs to partake of
Him.
WM. LAW.

If we stand in the openings of the present moment, with all the length and breadth of our
faculties unselfishly adjusted to what it reveals, we are in the best condition to receive
what God is always ready to communicate.
T. C. UPHAM.

January 8
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men.--GAL. vi. 10.
Let brotherly love continue.--HEB. xiii. 1.
I Ask Thee for a thoughtful love, Through constant watching wise, To meet the glad with
joyful smiles, And to wipe the weeping eyes, And a heart at leisure from itself, To soothe
and sympathize.
A. L. WARING.
Surely none are so full of cares, or so poor in gifts, that to them also, waiting patiently
and trustfully on God for His daily commands, He will not give direct ministry for Him,
increasing according to their strength and their desire. There is so much to be set right in
the world, there are so many to be led and helped and comforted, that we must
continually come in contact with such in our daily life. Let us only take care, that, by the
glance being turned inward, or strained onward, or lost in vacant reverie, we do not miss
our turn of service, and pass by those to whom we might have been sent on an errand
straight from God.
ELIZABETH CHARLES.
Look up and not down; look forward and not back; look out and not in; and lend a hand.
EDWARD E. HALE.

January 9
_And in every work that be began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and
in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered_.--2
CHRON. xxxi. 21.
What, shall we do, that we might work the works of God?--JOHN vi. 28.
Give me within the work which calls to-day, To see Thy finger gently beckoning on; So
struggle grows to freedom, work to play, And toils begun from Thee to Thee are done.
J. F. CLARKE.

God is a kind Father. He sets us all in the places where He wishes us to be employed; and
that employment is truly "our Father's business." He chooses work for every creature
which will be delightful to them, if they do it simply and humbly. He gives us always
strength enough, and sense enough, for what He wants us to do; if we either tire ourselves
or puzzle ourselves, it is our own fault. And we may always be sure, whatever we are
doing, that we cannot be pleasing Him, if we are not happy ourselves.
J. RUSKIN.

January 10
_Because Thy loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee_.--PS. lxiii. 3.
_Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall
preserve it_.--LUKE xvii. 33.
O Lord! my best desires fulfil, And help me to resign Life, health, and comfort, to Thy
will, And make Thy pleasure mine.
WM. COWPER.
What do our heavy hearts prove but that other things are sweeter to us than His will, that
we have not attained to the full mastery of our true freedom, the full perception of its
power, that our sonship is yet but faintly realized, and its blessedness not yet proved and
known? Our consent would turn all our trials into obedience. By consenting we make
them our own, and offer them with ourselves again to Him.
H. E. MANNING.
Nothing is intolerable that is necessary. Now God hath bound thy trouble upon thee, with
a design to try thee, and with purposes to reward and crown thee. These cords thou canst
not break; and therefore lie thou down gently, and suffer the hand of God to do what He
please.
JEREMY TAYLOR.

January 11
_I will be glad, and rejoice in Thy mercy: for Thou hast considered my trouble; Thou hast
known my soul in adversities_.--PS. xxxi. 7.
Nay, all by Thee is ordered, chosen, planned; Each drop that fills my daily cup Thy hand
Prescribes, for ills none else can understand: All, all