t the person that still
is, your living Lord. At Preston Pans, near Edinburgh, I looked on the
field where in the olden days armies were engaged in contest. In the
crisis of the battle the chieftain fell wounded. His men were about to
shrink away from the field when they saw their leader's form go down;
their strong hands held the claymore with trembling grip, and they
faltered for a moment. Then the old chieftain rallied strength enough to
rise on his elbow and cry: "I am not dead, my children, I am only watching
you--to see my clansmen do their duty." And so from the other side of
Calvary He is speaking; we cannot see Him, but He says, "Lo, I am with you
alway, even to the end of the world"; and He puts it, "I am"--an
uninterrupted and continuous presence. Not "I will be," but the unbroken
presence still is with us forevermore.

Soon the conflict shall be done,
Soon the battle shall be won;
Soon shall wave the victor's palm,
Soon shall sing the eternal Psalm;
Then our joyful song shall be,
I have overcome through Thee.

FEBRUARY 5.

"Rest in the Lord" (Ps. xxxvii.).

In the old creation the week began with work and ended with Sabbath rest.
The resurrection week begins with the first day--first rest, then labor.

So we must first cease from our own works as God did from His, and enter
into His rest, and then we will work, with rested hearts, His works with
effectual power.

But why "labor to enter into rest"? See that ship--how restfully she sails
over the waters, her sails swelling with the gale; and borne without an
effort! And yet, look at that man at the helm. See how firmly he holds the
rudder, bearing against the wind, and holding her steady to her position.
Let him for a moment relax his steady hold and the ship will fall
listlessly along the wind. The sails will flap, the waves will toss the
vessel at their will, and all rest and power will have gone. It is the
fixed helm that brings the steadying power of the wind. And so He has
said, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee,
because he trusteth in Thee." The steady will and stayed heart are ours.
The keeping is the Lord's. So let us labor to enter and abide in His rest.

FEBRUARY 6.

"Praying always for all saints" (Eph. vi. 18).

One good counsel will suffice just now. Stop praying so much for yourself;
begin to ask unselfish things, and see if God won't give you faith. See
how much easier it will be