onsecrates Himself to us, and henceforth,
the whole strength of His life and love and everlasting power is dedicated
to keep and complete our consecration, and to make the very best and most
of our consecrated life. Who would not give himself to such a Saviour?
Surely we will to-day, first give ourselves and then give Him each moment
as it comes, to be filled and used.

JULY 16.

"As the hart panteth after the waterbrooks, so panteth my soul after Thee,
O God" (Ps. xlii. 1).

First in order to a consecrated life there must be a sense of need, the
need of purity, of power, and of a greater nearness to the Lord. There
often comes in Christian life a second conviction. It is not now a sense
of guilt and God's wrath so much as of the power and evil of inward sin,
and the unsatisfactoriness of the life the soul is living. It usually
comes from the deeper revelation of God's truth, from more spiritual
teaching, from definite examples and testimonies of this life in others,
and often from an experience of deep trial, conflict and temptation in
which the soul has found its attainments and resources inadequate for the
real issues and needs of life. The first result is often a deep
discouragement and even despair, but the valley of Achor is the door of
hope, and the seventh chapter of Romans with its bitter cry, "O wretched
man that I am," is the gateway to the eighth with its shout of triumph,
"The Spirit of life in Christ hath made me free from the law of sin and
death."

JULY 17.

"By one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified" (Heb.
x. 14).

Are you missing what belongs to you? He has promised to sanctify you. He
has promised sanctification for you by coming to you Himself and being
made of God to you sanctification. Jesus is my sanctification. Having Him
I have obedience, rest, patience and everything I need. He is alive
forevermore. If you have Him nothing can be against you. Your temptations
will not be against you; your bad temper will not be against you; your
hard life, your circumstances, even the devil himself will not be against
you. Every time he comes to attack you, he will only root you deeper in
Christ. You will become a coward at the thought of being alone; you will
be thrown on Jesus every time a trouble assails you. All things henceforth
will work together for good to your own soul. Since God is for you nothing
can be against you.

My heavenly Bridegroom sought