Evening, November 15
Go To Morning Reading
“Strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.”
Psalm 68:28
It is our wisdom, as well as our necessity, to beseech God continually
to strengthen that which he has wrought in us. It is because of their
neglect in this, that many Christians may blame themselves for those
trials and afflictions of spirit which arise from unbelief. It is
true that Satan seeks to flood the fair garden of the heart and make
it a scene of desolation, but it is also true that many Christians
leave open the sluice-gates themselves, and let in the dreadful deluge
through carelessness and want of prayer to their strong Helper. We
often forget that the Author of our faith must be the Preserver of
it also. The lamp which was burning in the temple was never allowed
to go out, but it had to be daily replenished with fresh oil; in like
manner, our faith can only live by being sustained with the oil of
grace, and we can only obtain this from God himself. Foolish virgins
we shall prove, if we do not secure the needed sustenance for our
lamps. He who built the world upholds it, or it would fall in one
tremendous crash; he who made us Christians must maintain us by his
Spirit, or our ruin will be speedy and final. Let us, then, evening
by evening, go to our Lord for the grace and strength we need. We
have a strong argument to plead, for it is his own work of grace which we ask him to strengthen—“ that which thou hast wrought for us .” Think you he will fail to protect and sustain that? Only let your
faith take hold of his strength, and all the powers of darkness, led
on by the master fiend of hell, cannot cast a cloud or shadow over
your joy and peace. Why faint when you may be strong? Why suffer defeat
when you may conquer? Oh! take your wavering faith and drooping graces
to him who can revive and replenish them, and earnestly pray, “Strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.”