“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”
(Psalm 46:1).

A helper not present when needed is of no help. God, however, is a Helper who is here–regardless of when the need arises or even when we see no need at all. Charles Spurgeon put it like this: The anchor which is left at home is of no use to the seaman in the hour of storm; the money which he used to have is of no worth to the debtor when a writ is out against him. Very few earthly helps could be called “very present”: they are usually far in the seeking, far in the using, and farther still when once used. But as for the LORD our God, He is present when we seek Him, present when we need Him, and present when we have already enjoyed His aid.

He is more than “present,” He is very present. More present than the nearest friend can be, for He is in us in our trouble; more present than we are to ourselves, for sometimes we lack presence of mind. He is always present, effectually present, sympathetically present, altogether present. He is present now if this is a gloomy season. Let us rest ourselves upon Him. He is our refuge, let us hide in Him; He is our strength, let us array ourselves with Him; He is our help, let us lean upon Him; He is our very present help, let us repose in Him now. We need not have a moment’s care or an instant’s fear. “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”

“We walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Cor. 5:7.

This walk of faith takes in all the minute circumstances of every day’s history; a walking every step by faith; a looking above trials, above necessities, above perplexities, above improbabilities and impossibilities, above all second causes; and, in the face of difficulties and discouragements, going forward, leaning upon God. If the Lord were to roll the Red Sea before us, and marshal the Egyptians behind us, and thus hemming us in on every side, should yet bid us advance, it would be the duty and the privilege of faith instantly to obey, believing that, before our feet touched the water, God, in our extremity, would divide the sea and take us dry-shod over it. This is the only holy and happy life of a believer; if he for a moment leaves this path and attempts to walk by sight, difficulties will throng around him, troubles will multiply, the smallest trials will become heavy crosses, temptations to depart from the simple and uptight walk will increase in number and power, the heart will sicken at disappointment, the Holy Spirit will be grieved, and God will be dishonored. Let this precious truth ever be before the mind, “We walk by faith, not by sight.” —Octavius Winslow

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.”  1 John 4:11-13

God’s love to us should lead to His love through us. He proved His love for us by giving His Son to die on the cross. We should prove our love for others by meeting their needs, regardless of what they’ve done or failed to do. God’s love for us is unconditional and our love for others should be the same.

Dr. Paul Chappell gives us some food for thought regarding this subject. He wrote:

Verse eleven tells us that we are to love one another. Christ does not give us a list of requirements someone must meet in order for us to love them. He does not command us to love only those who love us. He tells us to love one another. This means everyone.

No matter what someone has done to us, we should love them. God’s love for us does not depend on our love for Him; He loves us whether we obey Him or reject Him. Even so, we must not base our love for others on their love for us or their attitude toward us. We must love them as Christ loves us.

Romans 5:5 says, “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Of our own power, we would not be able to always show God’s love. Yet through the empowering of His Holy Spirit, we can even show love to those who mistreat us.

Not only does Christ desire for us to love others, but He desires for us to let His love flow through our lives. God is invisible, but we as His children are visible. While some may not read of God’s love in His Word or see His love on Calvary, they may see it through us as believers. The only way some people may see the love of Christ is through our lives.

The famous British preacher G. Campbell Morgan was once at lunch with his wife and his five sons who were also preachers. A friend asked them, “Who is the greatest preacher?” In unison the six men said, “Our mother.” Mrs. Morgan’s life affected others more than any sermon her husband and sons had preached.

Because we are Christians, people will watch us. They will watch how we live and what we let affect our lives. Many times they will judge Christianity based on our lives. How would someone judge Christianity based on your life? Are you letting Christ’s love flow through you? Or will someone never see the love of Christ because of your life? Ask Christ to give you the strength to love those around you, and let His love flow through you today.

I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways—O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.–Psalm 119:15, 97

Shortly after I was saved I started on a plan to read through the Bible every year. That was a practice I continued for many years and it was a blessing. There’s nothing wrong with reading through the Bible in a year, but there is something better. Instead of seeing how much you can read, it’s better to seriously meditate on what you do read.

One of the greatest experiences in my life was teaching a series of word by word studies from Psalm 119. Anyone who loves the Bible will love this chapter. It will literally change your life. Every Christian ought to be well acquainted with it.

Our problem is that we are in to big of a hurry. We need to learn to slow down and really listen to what God is saying. I recently ran across this following quote that gives us some great advice. I hope you will consider what it says:

Remember that it is not hasty reading—but serious
meditation on holy and heavenly truths, which makes
them prove sweet and profitable to the soul.

It is not the mere touching of the flower by the
bee which gathers honey—but her abiding for a
time on the flower which draws out the sweet.

It is not he who reads most, but he who meditates
most—who will prove to be the choicest,
sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian.