Wednesday, November 23, 2011

"O that I knew where I might find him!"


Spurgeon:
Evening, November 19

   "O that I knew where I might find him!"
  Job 23:3

   In Job's uttermost extremity he cried after the Lord. The longing
   desire of an afflicted child of God is once more to see his Father's
   face. His first prayer is not "O that I might be healed of the disease
   which now festers in every part of my body!" nor even "O that I might
   see my children restored from the jaws of the grave, and my property
   once more brought from the hand of the spoiler!" but the first and
   uppermost cry is, "O that I knew where I might find Him, who is my God!
   that I might come even to his seat!" God's children run home when the
   storm comes on. It is the heaven-born instinct of a gracious soul to
   seek shelter from all ills beneath the wings of Jehovah. "He that hath
   made his refuge God," might serve as the title of a true believer. A
   hypocrite, when afflicted by God, resents the infliction, and, like a
   slave, would run from the Master who has scourged him; but not so the
   true heir of heaven, he kisses the hand which smote him, and seeks
   shelter from the rod in the bosom of the God who frowned upon him.
   Job's desire to commune with God was intensified by the failure of all
   other sources of consolation. The patriarch turned away from his sorry
   friends, and looked up to the celestial throne, just as a traveller
   turns from his empty skin bottle, and betakes himself with all speed to
   the well. He bids farewell to earth-born hopes, and cries, "O that I
   knew where I might find my God!" Nothing teaches us so much the
   preciousness of the Creator, as when we learn the emptiness of all
   besides. Turning away with bitter scorn from earth's hives, where we
   find no honey, but many sharp stings, we rejoice in him whose faithful
   word is sweeter than honey or the honeycomb. In every trouble we should
   first seek to realize God's presence with us. Only let us enjoy his
   smile, and we can bear our daily cross with a willing heart for his
   dear sake.

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Monday, November 21, 2011

Hymn and Prayer for Times of Trial and Thorns Joshua Condor


Heavenly father! To Whose eye
Future things unfolded lie;
Through the desert where I stray,
Let Thy counsels guide my way.

Lead me not, for flesh is frail,
Where the fiercest trials assail;
Leave me not, in darkened hour,
To withstand the tempter's power.

Lord, uphold me day by day;
Shed a light upon my way;
Guide me through perplexing snares;
Care for me in all my cares.

Should Thy wisdom, Lord, decree
Trials long and sharp for me,
Pain or sorrow, care or shame,
Father, glorify Thy name.

Let me neither faint nor fear,
Knowing still that Thou art near;
In the course my Saviour trod,
Travelling home to Thee, my God!


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The Holy Spirit's Presence By G.D. Watson


Dear Holy Spirit, who can know
      The Comforter Thou art,
      Till they have felt deep need of Thee
      From out a broken heart.

      Ten thousand griefs, dear Lord, have swept
      Across this heart of mine,
      But every one has pushed me out
      Still deeper into Thine.

      I know Thou workest for my good,
      The soul's unfathomed pains,
      The deep, dark dungeon's doleful cries
      Thou turn'st to mellow strains.

      Thou art far sweeter than Thy gifts,
      Though they surpass all thought;
      And yet Thy presence in my breast
      With precious blood was bought.

      O Comforter! it is Thyself
      Who shows the blood to me,
      And in my mind revealest Christ
      Like an effulgent sea.

      No creature in this world can know
      The way Thou leadest me,
      Through storms and pangs and lonely griefs,
      From self out into Thee.

      Dear, peaceful Spirit, Thou hast borne
      My sad heart far away
      Into a gulf of tender love,
      Which melts it day by day.

      Blest Holy Ghost, to me
      Thou art A boundless crystal sea,
      And I can lose all loneliness
      When all alone with Thee.

      I have no wish in all the world
      But to be filled with Thee,
      And drink my being full of love
      From Thine immensity.


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