come like a tree
planted by the rivers of waters.

NOVEMBER 10.

"But prayer was made without ceasing, of the church unto God for him"
(Acts xii. 5).

But prayer is the link that connects us with God. This is the bridge that
spans every gulf and bears us over every abyss of danger or of need. How
significant the picture of the apostolic church: Peter in prison, the Jews
triumphant, Herod supreme, the arena of martyrdom awaiting the dawning of
the morning to drink up the apostle's blood,--everything else against it.
"But prayer was made unto God without ceasing." And what the sequel? The
prison open,--the apostle free,--the Jews baffled,--the wicked king eaten of
worms, a spectacle of hideous retribution, and the Word of God rolling on
in greater victory.

Do we know the power of our supernatural weapon? Do we dare to use it with
the authority of a faith that commands as well as asks? God baptize us
with holy audacity and Divine confidence. He is not wanting great men, but
He is wanting men that will dare to prove the greatness of their God.

But God! But prayer!

NOVEMBER 11.

"Reckon yourselves dead, indeed" (Rom. vi. 11).

Our life from the dead is to be followed up by the habit and attitude
henceforth which is the logical outcome of all this. "Reckon yourselves
_dead indeed_, unto sin, but _alive unto God_ through Jesus Christ, and
yield yourselves unto God," not to die over again every day, "_but, as
those who are alive from the dead_, and your members as instruments of
righteousness unto God."

Further His resurrection life is given to fit us for "the fellowship of
His sufferings and to be made conformable unto His death."

It is intended to enable us to toil and suffer with rejoicing and victory.
We "mount up with wings as eagles," that we may come back to "run and not
be weary, to walk and not faint."

But let us not mistake the sufferings. They do not mean _our_ sufferings,
but His. They are not our struggles after holiness, our sicknesses and
pains, but those higher sufferings which, with Him, we bear for others,
and for a suffering church and a dying world. May God help us, henceforth,
never to have another sorrow for ourselves, and put us at leisure, in the
power of His resurrection, to bear His burdens and drink His cup.

NOVEMBER 12.

"The earnest of the Spirit in our hearts" (II. Cor. i. 22).

Life in earnest. What a rare, what a glorious spectacle! We see it