ce. The greatest
thing I can do is greatly to pray.

JUNE The Thirtieth

_GOD MY STRENGTH AND SONG_

"_The Lord is my strength and my song._"
--PSALM cxviii. 14-21.

Yes, first of all "my strength" and then "my song"! For what song can
there be where there is languor and fainting? What brave music can be born
in an organ which is short of breath? There must first be strength if we
would have fine harmonies. And so the good Lord comes to the songless, and
with holy power He brings the gift of "saving health."

"And my song"! For when life is healthy it instinctively breaks into song.
The happy, contented soul goes about the ways of life humming its
satisfactions to itself, and is now and again heard by the passer-by. The
Lord fills the life with instinctive music. When life is holy it becomes
musical with His praise.

So here I see the appointed order in Christian service. It is futile to
try to make people joyful unless we do it by seeking first to make them
strong. First the good, and then the truly happy! First the holy, and then
the musical. First God, and then the breath of His Holy Spirit, and then
"the new song."

JULY The First

_THE LIFE OR THE LIGHT OF MEN_

"_In Him was life._"
--JOHN i. 1-18.

Not merely a pool of life, but the well-spring. All rivers of enriching
vitality have their source in Him. Nowhere is there a crystal stream which
was not born at the Fountain. Let us make our claim for the Lord
all-comprehensive and inclusive. Whatever energizes body, mind, or soul,
has its origin in our Sovereign King. "All our springs are in Thee." "Thou
of life the Fountain art."

"_And the life was the light of men._" And what did He not light up? His
amazing rays streamed down the darkest ways of men, and illumined the
vast, sombre chambers of human circumstance. He lit up sin and showed its
true colour! He lit up sorrow, and transfigured it! He lit up duty, and
gave it a new face. He lit up common work, and glorified it. He lit up
death, and we could see through it! But, above all, He lit up God, and
"the people that sat in darkness saw a great light."

"_And the darkness apprehended it not._" The darkness could not lay hold
of it and quench it! It was not overwhelmed and eclipsed by the murkiest
fog of prejudice, or by the dingiest antagonism of sinful pride. "The
light showeth in the darkness," inviolable and invincible!

JULY The Second

_LIGHT AND LIGHTNING_

"_And