My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year | Page 3

even in the dark patches of
life, among my disappointments and defeats, and even there I shall find
tokens of the Lord's presence, some flowers of His planting.
And there is my share in the life of the nation. "Ye seed of Abraham
His servant, ye children of Jacob His chosen." There are hands that
stretch out to me from past days, laden with bequests of privilege and
freedom. Our feet "stand in a large place," and the place was cleared by
the fidelity and the courage of the men of old. I have countless
blessings that were bought with blood. The red marks of sacrifice are
over all my daily ways. Let me not take the inheritance and overlook

the blood marks, and stride about as though it were nought but common
ground. Mercies abound on every hand! "Count your blessings!"

JANUARY The Seventh
A JOURNAL OF MERCIES
NEHEMIAH ix. 6-11.
"Thou hast performed Thy words: for Thou art righteous." Frances
Ridley Havergal kept a journal of mercies. She had a record book, and
she crowded it with her remembrances of God's goodness. She was
always on the look-out for tokens of the Lord's grace and bounty, and
she found them everywhere. Everywhere she had communion with a
covenant-keeping God. The Bible became to her more and more the
history of her own life and experience. Promise after promise told the
story of her own triumphs. She appropriated the goodness of God, and
she set her own seal to the testimony that God is true.
Many a complaining life would be changed into music and song by a
journal of mercies. Many a fear can be dispersed by a ready
remembrance. Memory can be made the handmaid of hope. Yesterday's
blessing can kindle the courage of to-day. That is the purposed ministry
of "the days that have been." We are to harness the strength of their
experiences to the tasks and burdens of to-day; and in the remembrance
of God's providences we shall march through our difficulties with
singing.

JANUARY The Eighth
HE IS FAITHFUL!
1 KINGS viii. 54-61.
"There hath not failed one word of all His good promise." Supposing

one word had failed, how then? If one golden promise had turned out to
be counterfeit, how then? If the ground had yielded anywhere we
should have been fearful and suspicious at every part of the road. If the
bell of God's fidelity had been broken anywhere the music would have
been destroyed. But not one word has failed. The road has never given
way in time of flood. Every bell of heaven is perfectly sound, and the
music is full and glorious. "God is faithful, who also will do it."
"God is love," and "love never faileth." The lamp will not die out at the
midnight. The fountain will not fail us in the wilderness. The
consolations will not be wanting in the hour of our distresses. Love will
have "all things ready." "He has promised, and shall He not do it?" All
the powers of heaven are pledged to the fulfilment of the smallest word
of grace. We can never be deserted! "God cannot deny Himself." Every
word of His will unburden its treasure at the appointed hour, and I shall
be rich with the strength of my God.

JANUARY The Ninth
THE PERILS OF POSSESSIONS
GENESIS xiii. 1-9.
There is nothing more divisive than wealth. As families grow rich their
members frequently become alienated. It is rarely, indeed, that love
increases with the increase of riches. Luxurious possessions appear to
be a forcing-bed in which the seeds of sleeping vices waken into
strength. For one thing, selfishness is often quickened with success.
Plenty, as well as penury, can "freeze the genial currents of the soul."
And with selfishness comes a whole brood of mean and petty
dispositions. Envy comes with it, and jealousy, and a morbid
sensitiveness which readily leaps into strife.
So do our possessions multiply our temptations. So does the bright day
"bring forth the adder." So do we need extra defences when "fortune
smiles upon us." But our God can make us proof against "the fiery

darts" of success. Abram remained unscathed in "the garish day." The
Lord delivered him from "the destruction that wasteth at noonday." His
wealth increased, but it was not allowed to force itself between his soul
and God. In the midst of all his prosperity, he dwelt in "the secret place
of the Most High," and he abode in "the shadow of the Almighty."

JANUARY The Tenth
THE LUST OF THE EYE
GENESIS xiii. 10-18.
Look at Lot. He was a man of the world, sharp as a needle, having an
eye to the main chance. He boasted to himself that he always "took in
the