“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life“. – Proverbs 4:23

Every one carries in himself the elements of his own happiness or wretchedness. It is the heart that gives color to our skies and tone to the music we hear. A badly kept heart makes pain for the life. A well-lived life stores away memories which make celestial music to cheer the declining years.

Norman McLeod said: “Nothing makes a man so contented as an experience gathered from a well-watched past.” We can insure full happiness only by living no day whose memory will make us ashamed or give us pain, when we sit in the eventide and recall it.

The time to secure a “well-watched past” is while the early days of life are fleeting. We never can change any yesterday. An unholy life yields a harvest of wretchedness in old age. But a life of obedience to God, of faithfulness to duty, of personal purity and uprightness, and of unselfish, Christ-like service, will make old age like a garden of fruit and flowers.–J R Miller

Someone said, “Keep thy heart, God will keep the universe”. That’s good advice. You can’t change or control the world, but you can keep your heart and that will make a world of difference in your life!

“Come unto Me.” – Matthew 11:28
Whether you view this as a command, counsel, or an invitation, it is a glorious opportunity for sinful man to reconciled to God who is holy. It is only because of grace that we could ever have such a wonderful privilege as this. Would we not be fools to reject Him? Think about all that would be lost. As James Smith wrote:

“Jesus calls you to His throne; He is there waiting to hear, relieve, and bless you. You are to go to Him just as you are, and receive from Him all you need.

He will give you wisdom, to direct your steps; peace, to keep your hearts; strength, to do His will; righteousness, to justify your souls; and rest, unspeakably sweet. He is glorified in bestowing these blessings upon you. He calls you this MORNING, this MOMENT, to receive without money and without price. What a precious Saviour is Jesus! What a kind and tender Friend!

Let us go boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. “Come,” He says, “come to Me; go not to self, to the world, to the empty cisterns which creatures idolize; but come unto Me, and I will do for you exceeding abundantly, above all you can ask or think. Your sins I will pardon; your graces I will revive; your comforts I will restore; your holiness I will increase; your efforts to glorify Me I will crown with success; I will bless you, and you shall be a blessing.”

O how great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up for them that seek Thee; which Thou hast wrought for them that trust in Thee, before the sons of men!”

Jesus, with Thy word complying,
Firm our faith and hope shall be;
On Thy faithfulness relying,
We will cast our souls on Thee.

“Serve the Lord with gladness.”–Psalm 100:2
Delight in divine service is a token of acceptance. Those who serve God with a sad countenance, because they do what is unpleasant to them, are not serving him at all; they bring the form of homage, but the life is absent. Our God requires no slaves to grace his throne; he is the Lord of the empire of love, and would have his servants dressed in the livery of joy. The angels of God serve him with songs, not with groans; a murmur or a sigh would be a mutiny in their ranks. That obedience which is not voluntary is disobedience, for the Lord looketh at the heart, and if he seeth that we serve him from force, and not because we love him, he will reject our offering. Service coupled with cheerfulness is heart-service, and therefore true. Take away joyful willingness from the Christian, and you have removed the test of his sincerity. If a man be driven to battle, he is no patriot; but he who marches into the fray with flashing eye and beaming face, singing, “It is sweet for one’s country to die,” proves himself to be sincere in his patriotism. Cheerfulness is the support of our strength; in the joy of the Lord are we strong. It acts as the remover of difficulties. It is to our service what oil is to the wheels of a railway carriage. Without oil the axle soon grows hot, and accidents occur; and if there be not a holy cheerfulness to oil our wheels, our spirits will be clogged with weariness. The man who is cheerful in his service of God, proves that obedience is his element; he can sing,
“Make me to walk in thy commands,
’Tis a delightful road.”
Reader, let us put this question—do you serve the Lord with gladness? Let us show to the people of the world, who think our religion to be slavery, that it is to us a delight and a joy! Let our gladness proclaim that we serve a good Master.–Charles Spurgeon

“There hath not failed one word of all His good promise.”(Read 1 Kings 8:54-61) John Henry Jowett wrote: Supposing one word had failed, how then? If one golden promise had turned out to be counterfeit, how then? If the ground had yielded anywhere we should have been fearful and suspicious at every part of the road. If the bell of God’s fidelity had been broken anywhere the music would have been destroyed. But not one word has failed. The road has never given way in time of flood. Every bell of heaven is perfectly sound, and the music is full and glorious. “God is faithful, who also will do it.”

“God is love,” and “love never faileth.” The lamp will not die out at the midnight. The fountain will not fail us in the wilderness. The consolations will not be wanting in the hour of our distresses. Love will have “all things ready.” “He has promised, and shall He not do it?” All the powers of heaven are pledged to the fulfilment of the smallest word of grace. We can never be deserted! “God cannot deny Himself.” Every word of His will unburden its treasure at the appointed hour, and I shall be rich with the strength of my God.

“I will help thee.” – Isaiah 41:13

Wherever the Lord leads us, He will support us; nor shall the difficulties of the way, or the weakness we feel, be too much for us. His hand is stretched out to us, and it is for faith to lay hold of it and proceed, confident of assistance.

The arm of His power is the protection of His people in danger, and the strength of His people in weakness. He is a very present help in trouble. A God at hand. Are you weak, or in difficulty? Plead His word; it is plain, positive, and sure. He cannot lie. He will not deceive. His strength is made perfect, and is glorified in your weakness. Fear not, underneath are everlasting arms. He will strengthen you with strength in your soul.

He CAN help, for He is omnipotent. He WILL help, for He has given you His word. Trust in the Lord at all times; yea, trust in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. That strength is promised to you, and will be employed for you in answer to prayer.

Why then are you so fearful? Why cast down? He says, “I WILL HELP THEE.” “He hath said, and shall He not do it? He hath spoken, and shall He not make it good?”–James Smith, 1840

Fear not; I am with thee; O be not dismay’d!
For, I am thy God, and will still give thee aid!
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.