Nov 20.97 - Light The For The Day - "Silent Times"

"But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint." 
-- Isaiah 40:31(RSV)

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"Silent Times"

Every true Christian life needs its daily "silent times,"
when all shall be still, when the busy activity of other
hours shall cease, and when the heart, in holy hush,
shall commune with God.

One of the greatest needs in Christian life is more
devotion. Ours is not an age of prayer as much as
an age of work. The tendency is to action rather
than worship; to busy toil rather than to quiet
sitting at the Savior's feet to commune with Him.

The keynote of our present Christian life is
consecration, which is understood to mean devotion
to active service. On every hand we are incited to
work. Our zeal is stirred by every inspiring incentive.

The truest religious life is one whose devotion gives
food and strength for service. The way to spiritual
health lies in the paths of consecrated activity.

Before there can be a strong, vigorous, healthy tree,
able to bear much fruit, to stand the storm, to endure
the heat and cold, there must be a well-planted and
well-nourished root; and before there can be a
prosperous, noble, enduring Christian life in the
presence of the world, safe in temptation and
unshaken in trials, full of good fruits, perennial and
unfading in its leaf, there must be a close walk with
God in secret. 

We must receive from God before we can give to
others, for we have nothing of our own with which to
feed men's hunger or quench their thirst. We are but
empty vessels at the best, and must wait to be filled
before we have anything to carry to those who need. 

We must listen at heaven's gates before we can go
out to sing the heavenly songs in the ears of human
weariness and sorrow. Our lips must be touched
with a coal from God's altar before we can become
God's messengers to men.

We must lie much upon Christ's bosom before our
poor earthly lives can be struck through with the
spirit of Christ and made to shine in the transfigured
beauty of His blessed life.

Devotion is never to displace duty -- it often brings
new duties to our hands -- but it fits us for activity. 

-- J.R. Miller (1886)


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"The LORD is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul that seeks him.
It is good that one should wait quietly for the
salvation of the LORD."
-- Lamentations 3:25-26 (RSV)

"It will be said on that day, "Lo, this is our God;
we have waited for him, that he might save us. 
This is the LORD; we have waited for him;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation." 
-- Isaiah 25:9 (RSV)

"Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you;
therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.
For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all
those who wait for him." 
-- Isaiah 30:18 (RSV)-

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