y do more damage than the
lightning. The soul may falter even in Beulah land, where "the sun shines
night and day."

Prayer must not, therefore, tarry until sickness and adversity come. We
must "pray without ceasing" in the cloudless noon, lest we are stricken
with "the arrow that flieth by day." We must seek the eternal strength
when no apparent enemy crouches at our gate, and when our easy road is
lined with luxuriant flowers and fruit.

FEBRUARY The Twenty-ninth

_INVINCIBLE RELIANCE_

HEBREWS xi. 17-22.

"Accounting that God was able." That is the faith that makes moral heroes.
That is the faith that prompts mighty ventures and crusades. It is faith
in God's willingness and ability to redeem His promises. It is faith that
if I do my part He will most assuredly do His. It is faith that He cannot
possibly fail. It is faith that when He makes a promise the money is
already in the bank. It is faith that when He sends me into the wilderness
the secret harvest is already ripe from which He will give me "daily
bread." It is faith that "all things are now ready," and in that faith I
will face the apparently impossible task.

And thus the "impossible" leads me to the "prepared." The desert leads me
to "fields white already." The hard call to sacrifice leads me to the
"lamb in the thicket." "God is able," and He is never behind the time. The
critical need unveils His grace.

Faith goes out on this invincible reliance. It is "the assurance of things
hoped for." And by faith it inherits these things and is rich and strong
in their possession.

MARCH The First

_OVERCHARGING THE HEART_

LUKE xxi. 25-36.

Here is a great peril. Our hearts may be "_overcharged with surfeiting,
and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you
unawares_." Our mode of living may send our spirits to sleep. Yes, we may
so ill-use our bodies that the watchman sleeps at his post! We can
over-eat, and dim our moral sight. A man's daily meals have vital
relationship with his vision of the Lord. If I would have a clear spirit I
must not overburden the flesh.

And therefore am I bidden to "_take heed_" to myself. I must exercise
common sense, the most important of all the senses. I must put a bridle
upon my appetite, and hold it in subjection to my Lord.

And I must "_watch_!" The devil is surpassingly cunning, and, if he can,
he will mix an opiate even with the sacramental wine. He will lure me
among t