January 22

Fourth Sunday in Advent

Rejoice in the Lord alway. Philippians 4:4.

SINCE "in Him we do live, and move, and have our being," surely we ought by our own wills "to live, move, and be" in and to Him. In Him we must be by the very law of our being, since out of Him we could not be nor exist; we must live encircled, and enwrapt, and enfolded in and by His being; we belong to Him, we are encompassed by Him. Every breath we draw is through Him. But more blessedly we may be in Him by grace. He is the Life of our soul, the Being of our being; He wills to trust us to Himself. Not more surely does our blood circulate through our veins than the life of our souls may flow into us continually from the Spirit of God. Never decayed, ever renewed. With Him thou mayest ever be; He will walk with thee by the way, He will talk with thee in thy secret heart, He will be with thee as thy Friend; by night or by day He will not be separated from thee; He will teach thee through all who teach. Through every dispensation of His Providence He will instruct thee, He will teach thee to pray by His Spirit within thee. In every trouble He will be with thee, nearer than the trouble nearest to thy heart, for He will be within thee. He will kindle thee with love, He will strengthen thy faith, He will be Himself thy hope.

Fain would my thoughts fly up to Thee, Thy peace, sweet Lord, to find; But when I offer, still the world Lays clogs upon my mind.

Guide then my way, Who art Thyself My everlasting end; That every step, or swift or slow, Still to Thyself may tend.