ISAIAH 48:10 – “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.”
THEME OF THE DAY: THOSE INWARD TRIALS. The 17th century giant of the faith, John Newton, is well-known by his hymn Amazing Grace. He wrote more and, in addition, was widely recognized for his pastoral care and letter-writing. Back to his hymns. One penned in 1779, listed below, was titled Prayer Answered by Crosses. It often goes by another title, I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow. The theme for today’s nugget is drawn from the concluding line. Ponder it. Pray through it. I made a copy and put it in my Bible. You might consider the same for ready reference.
“I ask’d the Lord, that I might grow
In faith, and love, and ev’ry grace,
Might more of his salvation know,
And seek more earnestly his face.
‘Twas he who taught me thus to pray,
And he, I trust has answer’d pray’r;
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair.
I hop’d that in some favour’d hour,
At once he’d answer my request:
And by his love’s constraining pow’r,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.
Instead of this. he made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in ev’ry part.
Yea more, with his own hand he seem’d
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Cross’d all the fair designs I schem’d,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.
Lord, why is this, I trembling cry’d,
Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?
“‘Tis in this way,” the Lord reply’d,
“I answer pray’r for grace and faith.
“These inward trials I employ,
“From self and pride to set thee free;
“And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
“That thou mayst seek thy all in me.””
PRAYER: Father, help me to respond to Your work in me in ways that please You, and not complain or grumble.
REFLECTION: We must not try to understand God’s ways but trust His ways for He commands the latter, not the former.