Paul was a man who practiced what he preached. He not only said, “Rejoice alway”, he did–even in the worst of times. But how is it that he could rejoice in his tribulations and give thanks always and we can’t? The answer, perhaps, is found in 1 Tim. 1:13-15 where Paul speaks of himself as “chief” of sinners. He was thankful because he realized how sinful and unworthy he was. He could rejoice because he knew things were never as bad as what he actually deserved.

Thomas Watson wrote, “If you wish to be thankful, get a heart deeply humbled with a sense of your own vileness. A broken heart is the best pipe to sound forth God’s praise—a proud man will never be thankful. He looks on all his mercies as either of his own procuring or deserving, if he has an estate, this he got by his own wits and industry; not considering the scripture, “ But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.(Deut.8:18). Pride stops the current of gratitude.O Christian, think of you unworthiness; see yourself as the least of saints, and the chief of sinners–then you will be thankful.”

I would add— and happy and joyful. That should get our attention. Believe it or not, this affects just about every area of our life. We pout, murmur, and complain because we think we deserve more, bigger, and better. If we really believed that we deserve nothing we would be satisfied with anything and thankful for everything. We ought to believe it because it is so. And, when we acknowledge this we will finally be able to live contentedly as the Bible tells us to do.

To reach that place we have to break away from the pack, leave the mainstream,and abandon the philosophy that tells us to value and esteem ourselves because we are worthy. Keep believing that if you please, but you’ll get what you’ve got. As long as we entertain the belief of self-worth we will continue riding an emotional roller coaster—-up one minute and down the next. Getting to the place where Paul was takes more than someone telling us we are worthless. To see ourselves as we really are we have to look to God’s Word. It alone describes man as he really is, declares what the result will be, and reveals the difference that God’s grace can make in a person’s life. Seeing that all we have is by grace we find nothing else to boast in and nothing to complain about.

For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure ; but he for our profit , that we might be partakers of his holiness.  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby . Hebrews 12:10-11

We are not in this world merely to have a pleasant time–but to be fashioned into beauty of Christly character. If we would always remember this, we would not be so perplexed by the mysteries of our lives.

If joy is ours–it is to make us a greater blessing to others.

If sorrow is ours–it is to bring out Christ’s image in us more clearly.

If our hopes are disappointed–it is because God has some better thing for us, than that which we so earnestly desire.

If we are called to endure pain–it is because godly character can only be matured by affliction.

If bereavement comes and we are left without the human arm we have always leaned upon–it is because there are elements of character in our life which never could be developed unless the human support were removed.

If our burdens are heavy–it is because we grow best under burdens.

If we suffer wrong–it is to teach us better the great lessons of meekness, patience and sweet temper.

Always the Master is making us into the beauty of the holy pattern He has set for us, and preparing us for greater usefulness and better service!
–J. R. Miller

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

—-the wisdom of the just. – Luke 1:17

The Lord’s people are justified freely, by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. The work of Jesus is their justification before God; in this they trust; in this they plead; and in this they rejoice. Taught by the Holy Spirit, they manifest wisdom in readily believing God’s faithful word, and trusting Him to make good the same to them.

They resign themselves and all they value into His hands for preservation, and to be entirely at His disposal, persuaded that His wisdom and love will do better for them, than they possibly could for themselves. They refer all things to God for His decision, and cheerfully abide by His sentence.

They live in simple, child-like dependance upon His providence and grace, for body and soul, for time and eternity, seeking to make His will theirs. They walk in charity with their fellow-Christians, who differ in some things from them, and would do good to all, especially to them that are of the household of faith.

Beloved, do you manifest this wisdom? Do you walk by this rule? Do you mind the same things? Have you the wisdom that is from above, which is pure, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits?

Boundless wisdom, power Divine,
Love unspeakable, are Thine;
Wisdom, Lord, to me be given,
–By James Smith

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ—– 2 Corinthians 2:14

God gets His greatest victories out of apparent defeats. Very often the enemy seems to triumph for a little, and God lets it be so; but then He comes in and upsets all the work of the enemy, overthrows the apparent victory, and as the Bible says, “turns the way of the wicked upside down.” Thus He gives a great deal larger victory than we would have known if He had not allowed the enemy, seemingly, to triumph in the first place.

The story of the three Hebrew children being cast into the fiery furnace is a familiar one. Here was an apparent victory for the enemy. It looked as if the servants of the living God were going to have a terrible defeat. We have all been in places where it seemed as though we were defeated, and the enemy rejoiced. We can imagine what a complete defeat this looked to be. They fell down into the flames, and their enemies watched them to see them burn up in that awful fire, but were greatly astonished to see them walking around in the fire enjoying themselves. Nebuchadnezzar told them to “come forth out of the midst of the fire.” Not even a hair was singed, nor was the smell of fire on their garments, “because there is no other god that can deliver after this sort.”

This apparent defeat resulted in a marvelous victory.

Suppose that these three men had lost their faith and courage, and had complained, saying, “Why did not God keep us out of the furnace!” They would have been burned, and God would not have been glorified. If there is a great trial in your life today, do not own it as a defeat, but continue, by faith, to claim the victory through Him who is able to make you more than conqueror, and a glorious victory will soon be apparent. Let us learn that in all the hard places God brings us into, He is making opportunities for us to exercise such faith in Him as will bring about blessed results and greatly glorify His name.
–Life of Praise

—- Lord, save me.–Matt. 14:30
Sinking times are praying times with the Lord’s servants. Peter neglected prayer at starting upon his venturous journey, but when he began to sink his danger made him a suppliant, and his cry though late was not too late. In our hours of bodily pain and mental anguish, we find ourselves as naturally driven to prayer as the wreck is driven upon the shore by the waves. The fox hies (hastens) to its hole for protection; the bird flies to the wood for shelter; and even so the tried believer hastens to the mercy seat for safety. Heaven’s great harbour of refuge is All-prayer; thousands of weather-beaten vessels have found a haven there, and the moment a storm comes on, it is wise for us to make for it with all sail.

Short prayers are long enough. There were but three words in the petition which Peter gasped out, but they were sufficient for his purpose. Not length but strength is desirable. A sense of need is a mighty teacher of brevity. If our prayers had less of the tail feathers of pride and more wing they would be all the better. Verbiage is to devotion as chaff to the wheat. Precious things lie in small compass, and all that is real prayer in many a long address might have been uttered in a petition as short as that of Peter.

Our extremities are the Lord’s opportunities. Immediately a keen sense of danger forces an anxious cry from us the ear of Jesus hears, and with him ear and heart go together, and the hand does not long linger. At the last moment we appeal to our Master, but his swift hand makes up for our delays by instant and effectual action. Are we nearly engulfed by the boisterous waters of affliction? Let us then lift up our souls unto our Saviour, and we may rest assured that he will not suffer us to perish. When we can do nothing Jesus can do all things; let us enlist his powerful aid upon our side, and all will be well. –Charles Spurgeon