September 13

The Lord knoweth them that are His.—II TIM. ii, 19.

O Father! help us to resign

Our hearts, our strength, our wills to Thee;

Then even lowliest work of Thine

Most noble, blest, and sweet will be.

H. M. KIMBALL.

Devotion is really nothing more nor less than a general inclination and readiness to do that which we know to be acceptable to God. It is that "free spirit," of which David spoke when he said, "I will run the way of Thy commandments, when Thou hast set my heart at liberty." People of ordinary goodness walk in God's way, but the devout run in it, and at length they almost fly therein. . . . To be truly devout, we must not only do God's will, but we must do it cheerfully.

FRANCIS DE SALES.

That piety which sanctifies us, and which is a true devotion to God, consists in doing all His will precisely at the time, in the situation, and under the circumstances in which He has placed us. Perfect devotedness requires not only that we do the will of God, but that we do it with love. God would have us serve Him with delight; it is our hearts that He asks of us.

FÉNELON.