7. Devotional: We Should Never Lose Heart

We Should Never Lose Heart

by J. R. Miller

On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the Word of the Lord came through Haggai the prophet. (Haggai 2:1)  

    The Lord always seeks to be an encourager. These returned captives were very much discouraged. They had begun with great enthusiasm to build the temple—but difficulties had risen. Then the Lord sent his servant to hearten the governor and the people, to cheer them, that they might go on through all the obstacles which faced them. That is the way the Lord is always doing with his children. He does not want us ever to yield to discouragement. Of course, life is hard at many a point. There are ofttimes difficult tasks to perform, and sore struggles to endure. Things often seem to fail in our hands. Our plans miscarry, our hopes disappoint us. We meet opposition and enmity, and it seems to us we can never get through with the things we are set to do!  

    But when we open the Bible, we find encouragement on every page. We are there taught never to yield to despair. There can be no failure in duty—if only we are faithful. We never can be defeated in temptation, if only we stand true to Christ. We never can sink under our burden, if only we cast it upon Christ. The things that seem to be failures, become successes, when God's hand is in them. So God ever comes to encourage us in our difficulties. "Fear not; I am with you!" is the formula of divine cheer in every hour of trial. Therefore we should never lose heart.

2. Devotional: Shortcut?

Shortcut?

by J. R. Miller

I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the Lord’s anointed. 

(1 Samuel 24:10)

    David seemed now to have a short, quick way to the kingdom, but he would not dare to take it. Now the throne was Saul’s—he was the Lord’s anointed. David would not lift a finger to hurry God’s providence, and to become king before God made him king. There often are things that God intends to give us–but which we must wait to receive in his way. Short-cuts in life’s paths are always mistakes in the end. Jacob’s mother knew that Jacob was to have the blessing of the firstborn, but if she had waited it would have come to him without being stained, as it was by her own and Jacob’s deception.  

    Young men are ambitious, and their ambition may be right; but too often they are in such feverish haste to reach what they wish that they take the shortcut of dishonesty to get the sooner to the coveted place. It never pays. David could have been on the throne the next day, but he would have left stains of guilt on the steps as he ascended; it was better far for him to wander on in exile for a time longer, and then reach the throne by a clean path. It is pleasant to see young men get on in life; but we must always ask how they have gotten on, to know whether their elevation is really an honor. The only way to true success is God’s way. We must learn to wait for God.

37. Devotional: Comforted

Comforted

by J. R. Miller

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Matt 5:4)

    We do not usually regard sorrowing people as blessed. Here, however, is a special beatitude for mourners. In particular, Jesus probably meant penitent mourners. In all this world there is nothing so precious before God as tears of contrition; no diamonds or pearls shine with such brilliance in His sight. It was Jesus Himself Who said, “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth”. Truly blessed, therefore, are those who in true penitence grieve over their sins; a holy light shines from heaven upon all such mourners. They are comforted with God’s pardon and peace.  

    But no doubt the beatitude refers also to those children of God who are in sorrow, from whatever cause. Blessing is never nearer to us than when we are in affliction. If we do not get it, it is because we will not receive it. Some day we shall see that we have gotten our best things from heaven, not in the days of our earthly joy and gladness, but in the times of trial and affliction.  

    Tears are lenses through which our dim eyes see more deeply into heaven and look more fully upon God’s face than in any other way. Sorrows cleanse our hearts of earthliness and fertilize our lives. The days of pain really do far more for us than the days of rejoicing. We grow best when clouds hang over us, because clouds bear rain, and rain refreshes. Then God’s comfort is such a rich experience that it is well worth while to endure trial, just to enjoy the sweet and precious comfort which God gives in it.  

    But to receive from our sorrows their possibilities of blessing, we must accept the affliction as a messenger from God, and pray for true comfort, not the mere drying of our tears, but grace to profit by our affliction, and to get from it the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

35. Devotional: God's Training

God's Training

by J. R. Miller

The men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king. (2 Samuel 2:4) 

    David had been a long time in preparation for his place.  

   When only a boy he was anointed, but he was not fit then to be a king. He was taken to Saul’s court, where he learned much about the ways of kings. The envy of Saul seemed a bitter thing to break into such a happy career as David’s. But this too had its place in his training. It taught him patience and self–control. It forced him out among the people, away from luxury and refinement, into caves and mountains, where he learned how the common people lived, and was taught sympathy with men in their hardships and trials.  

    He was a better king afterward, because of his long years of persecution and exile. In these and in other ways was David made ready for his duties as king. We must not think it strange if we are called to endure trials, temptations, hardships, and suffering in our earlier years, for it is in this way that God would train us for noble character and for larger usefulness.

1. Link: Daily Devotionals

1. Streams In The Desert by L. B. Cowman
     http://www.christianity.com/devotionals/streams-in-the-desert/archive/

2. Faith's Checkbook by C. H. Spurgeon
     https://archive.org/details/thechequebookoft00purguoft

3. Morning By Morning by C. H. Spurgeon
     https://archive.org/details/morningbymornin00spur

4. Evening By Evening by C. H. Spurgeon
     https://archive.org/details/eveningbyevening00spur

5. Days Of Heaven Upon Earth by A. B. Simpson
     https://archive.org/details/daysofheavenupon00simp

6. Daily Open Windows by T. Austin-Sparks
     http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/openwindows/003109.html

7. Day By Day With T. Austin-Sparks
     https://bookministry.wordpress.com

8. My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers
     http://utmost.org

9. None But The Hungry Heart by Miles J. Stanford
     http://www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/

10. Daily Strength For Daily Needs by Mary Wilder Tileston
       https://archive.org/details/dailystrength00tile

11. J. R. Miller's Year Book
       https://archive.org/details/drmillersyearbo00mill

12. The Continual Burnt Offering by H. A. Ironside
       http://www.plymouthbrethren.org/series/6104

13. Truths To Live By, One Day At A Time by William MacDonald
       http://www.plymouthbrethren.org/series/6233

14. Devotionals by David Wilkerson
       http://sermons.worldchallenge.org/en/view/devotions