August 8

Third Thursday after Trinity

Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you. I S. PETER v. 7.

God careth for you like a parent for a child, but with a peculiar and intimate regard beyond the thought of man; for the hairs of your head by Him are numbered. Humble yourselves, therefore. This humility is an exercise, a practice, a habit to be obtained by lowly actions and thoughts; whereas, whatever tends to exalt us in our own eyes does so far lessen within us the grace of God. Casting on Him every care. Unite your prayer with that of Jesus in Gethsemane, and all its trials will be light. It may be in silence, in contrition, in desolation, that your Lord tries you, but submit yourself a willing victim to whatever it be. Bethink you of the pains of hell, and all healing pain will seem light, even though protracted and sharp. It may be that God chastens you by silence or by permitting contrition to assume a form of bitter shame for past sin. Whatever shape His loving correction may take, accept it in a spirit of ready sacrifice. Such a spirit will draw you very close to God in prayer; the bitter waters will become sweet to your soul, and your darkness will become light. Lay your heads and all your troubles on the bosom of His infinite tenderness and compassion; there is your only safety. If you forget this and trust to yourselves, you will immediately fall, and that assuredly. Thence follows, as in close connection with this subject, that of unceasing watchfulness.

My Father and my God, O set this spirit free! I'd gladly kiss the rod That drove my trembling soul to Thee, And made it Thine eternally!