ged
by surrounding circumstances, but is often surprised at the deep, sweet
gladness that comes without any apparent cause, and even comes most
strongly when everything in our condition and circumstances is fitted to
fill us with sorrow and depression.

It is the nightingale in the heart, which sings at night, and sings
because it is its nature to sing.

It is the glorified and incorruptible joy which belongs to heaven, and
anticipates already the everlasting song. Lord, give me Thy joy under all
circumstances this day, and let my full heart overflow in blessing to
others.

JANUARY 29.

"Send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared" (Neh. viii. 10).

That was a fine picture in the days of Nehemiah, when they were
celebrating their glorious Feast of Tabernacles. "Neither be ye sorry; for
the joy of the Lord is your strength. Go your way, eat the fat, and drink
the sweet, and send portions to them for whom nothing is prepared."

How many there are on every side for whom nothing is prepared! Let us find
out some sad and needy heart for whom there is no one else to think or
care. Let us pray for some one that has none to pray for him. Let us be
like Him who, one Christmas Day, gave His life and His all, and came to
those who would not appreciate His holy gift, but rejected His blessed
Babe, and murdered His only Son.

Let us not be afraid to know something even of the love that is unrequited
and is thrown away on the unworthy. That is the love of Christ, and God
has for such love a rich recompense.

How Christ must almost weep over the selfishness that meets Him from those
for whom He died.

JANUARY 30.

"Cast down but not destroyed" (II. Cor. iv. 9).

How did God bring about the miracle of the Red Sea? By shutting His people
in on every side, so that there was no way out but the divine way. The
Egyptians were behind them, the sea was in front of them, the mountains
were on every side of them. There was no escape but from above.

Some one has said that the devil can wall us in, but he cannot roof us
over. We can always get out at the top. Our difficulties are but God's
challenges, and He makes them so hard, often, that we must go under or get
above them.

In such an hour, if there is a divine element, it brings out the highest
possibilities of faith and we are pushed by the very emergency into God's
best.

Beloved, this is God's hour. If you will rise to meet it you will get suc