so truly. Here we have found much comfort and help, and if
results have not been entirely satisfactory, they have, at least, been
more so than before we reached this point of subdivision.

But if we have found help and blessing by going a certain distance in one
direction, is it not probable we shall find more if we go farther in the
same? And so, if we may commit the days to our Lord, why not the hours,
and why not the moments? And may we not expect a fresh and special
blessing in so doing?

We do not realize the importance of moments. Only let us consider those
two sayings of God about them, 'In a moment shall they die,' and, 'We
shall all be changed in a moment,' and we shall think less lightly of
them. Eternal issues may hang upon any one of them, but it has come and
gone before we can even think about it. Nothing seems less within the
possibility of our own keeping, yet nothing is more inclusive of all
other keeping. Therefore let us ask Him to keep them for us.

Are they not the tiny joints in the harness through which the darts of
temptation pierce us? Only give us time, we think, and we should not be
overcome. Only give us time, and we could pray and resist, and the devil
would flee from us! But he comes all in a moment; and in a moment--an
unguarded, unkept one--we utter the hasty or exaggerated word, or think
the un-Christ-like thought, or feel the un-Christ-like impatience or
resentment.

But even if we have gone so far as to say, 'Take my moments,' have we
gone the step farther, and really _let_ Him take them--really entrusted
them to Him? It is no good saying 'take,' when we do not let go. How can
another keep that which we are keeping hold of? So let us, with full
trust in His power, first commit these slippery moments to Him,--put them
right into His hand,--and then we may trustfully and happily say, 'Lord,
keep them for me! Keep every one of the quick series as it arises. I
cannot keep them for Thee; do Thou keep them for Thyself!'

But the sanctified and Christ-loving heart cannot be satisfied with only
negative keeping. We do not want only to be kept from displeasing Him,
but to be kept always pleasing Him. Every 'kept _from_' should have its
corresponding and still more blessed 'kept _for_.' We do not want our
moments to be simply kept from Satan's use, but kept for His use; we want
them to be not only kept from sin, but kept for His praise.

Do you ask, 'But what use can he make of mere moment