Daily Strength for Daily Needs | Page 9

walk beside will be raging waves of
trouble and sorrow. If this should be the case, He will make them still waters for you, and
you must go and lie down beside them, and let them have all their blessed influences
upon you.
H. W. SMITH.

February 1
_Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward
another, according to Christ Jesus_.--ROM. xv. 5.
Let patience have her perfect work.--JAMES i. 4.
Make me patient, kind, and gentle, Day by day; Teach me how to live more nearly As I
pray.

SHARPE'S MAGAZINE.
The exercise of patience involves a continual practice of the presence of God; for we may
be come upon at any moment for an almost heroic display of good temper, and it is a
short road to unselfishness, for nothing is left to self; all that seems to belong most
intimately to self, to be self's private property, such as time, home, and rest, are invaded
by these continual trials of patience. The family is full of such opportunities.
F. W. FABER.
Only as we know what it is to cherish love when sore at some unkindness, to overmaster
ourselves when under provocation, to preserve gentleness during trial and unmerited
wrong,--only then can we know in any degree the "manner of spirit" that was in Christ.
T. T. CARTER.

February 2
_Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded,
support the weak, be patient toward all men_.--I THESS. v. 14.
The little worries which we meet each day May lie as stumbling-blocks across our way,
Or we may make them stepping-stones to be Of grace, O Lord, to Thee.
A. E. HAMILITON.
We must be continually sacrificing our own wills, as opportunity serves, to the will of
others; bearing, without notice, sights and sounds that annoy us; setting about this or that
task, when we had far rather be doing something very different; persevering in it, often,
when we are thoroughly tired of it; keeping company for duty's sake, when it would be a
great joy to us to be by ourselves; besides all the trifling untoward accidents of life;
bodily pain and weakness long continued, and perplexing us often when it does not
amount to illness; losing what we value, missing what we desire; disappointment in other
persons, wilfulness, unkindness, ingratitude, folly, in cases where we least expect it.
J. KEBLE.

February 3
_Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there
be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting_.--PS. cxxxix. 23, 24.
Save us from the evil tongue, From the heart that thinketh wrong, From the sins, whate'er
they be, That divide the soul from Thee.

ANON.
Such as are thy habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of thy mind; for the soul
is dyed by the thoughts. Dye it then with a continuous series of such thoughts as these:
for instance, that where a man can live, there he can also live well. But he must live in a
palace: well, then, he can also live well in a palace.
MARCUS ANTONINUS.
Who is there that sets himself to the task of steadily watching his thoughts for the space
of one hour, with the view of preserving his mind in a simple, humble, healthful
condition, but will speedily discern in the multiform, self-reflecting, self-admiring
emotions, which, like locusts, are ready to "eat up every green thing in his land," a state
as much opposed to simplicity and humility as night is to day?
M. A. KELTY.

February 4
_If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the
whole body_.--JAMES iii. 2
Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.--PS. cxli. 3.
What! never speak one evil word, Or rash, or idle, or unkind! Oh, how shall I, most
gracious Lord, This mark of true perfection find?
C. WESLEY.
When we remember our temptations to give quick indulgence to disappointment or
irritation or unsympathizing weariness, and how hard a thing it is from day to day to meet
our fellow-men, our neighbors, or even our own households, in all moods, in all
discordances between the world without us and the frames within, in all states of health,
of solicitude, of preoccupation, and show no signs of impatience, ungentleness, or
unobservant self-absorption,--with only kindly feeling finding expression, and ungenial
feeling at least inwardly imprisoned;--we shall be ready to acknowledge that the man
who has thus attained is master of himself, and in the graciousness of his power is
fashioned upon the style of a Perfect Man.
J. H. THOM.

February 5