Will not be moved”—what an inspiring declaration! Is it possible for us who are so easily moved by earthly things to come to a point where nothing can upset us or disturb our peace? The answer is yes, and the apostle Paul knew it. When he was on his way to Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit warned him that “prison and hardships” (Acts 20:23) awaited him. Yet he could triumphantly say, “But none of these things move me” (Acts 20:24 KJV).

Everything in Paul’s life and experience that could be disturbed had already been shaken, and he no longer considered his life or any of his possessions as having any earthly value. And if we will only let God have His way with us, we can come to the same point. Then, like Paul, neither the stress and strain of little things nor the great and heavy trials of life will have enough power to move us from “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). God declares this peace to be the inheritance of those who have learned to rest only on Him.

“The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it” (Revelation 3:12). Becoming as immovable as a pillar in the house of God is such a worthy objective that we would gladly endure all the necessary trials that take us there! HANNAH WHITALL SMITH

When God is the center of a kingdom or a city, He makes it strong “like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken” (Psalm 125:1). And when God is the center of a soul, although disasters may crowd in on all sides and roar like the waves of the sea, there is a constant calm within. The world can neither give nor take away this kind of peace. What is it that causes people to shake like leaves today at the first hint of danger? It is simply the lack of God living in their soul, and having the world in their hearts instead. R. LEIGHTON

“Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever” (Psalm 125:1). There is an old Scottish version of this psalm that strengthens our blood like iron:

Who clings to God in constant trust As Zion’s mount he stands full just, And who moves not, nor yet does reel, But stands for ever strong as steel!

We read in 2 Samuel 5:17, “When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him.”

The moment we receive anything from the Lord worth fighting for, the Devil comes seeking to destroy us.

When the Enemy confronts us at the threshold of any great work for God, we should accept it as evidence of our salvation, and claim double the blessing, victory, and power. Power is developed through resistance.

The force and the amount of damage created by an exploding artillery shell appear to be greater because of the resistance at the point of impact.

A power plant produces additional electricity by using the friction of the rotating turbines.

And one day, we too will understand that even Satan has been used as one of God’s instruments of blessing.

DAYS OF HEAVEN UPON EARTH

A hero is not fed on sweets, Daily his own heart he eats; Chambers of the great are jails, And head winds right for royal sails. RALPH WALDO EMERSON

Tribulation is the door to triumph. The valley leads to the open highway, and tribulation’s imprint is on every great accomplishment.

Crowns are cast in crucibles, and the chains of character found at the feet of God are forged in earthly flames.

No one wins the greatest victory until he has walked the winepress of woe.

With deep furrows of anguish on His brow, the “man of sorrows” (Isaiah 53:3 NASB) said, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33).

But immediately comes the psalm of promise, “Take heart! I have overcome the world.”

The footprints are visible everywhere. The steps that lead to thrones are stained with spattered blood, and scars are the price for scepters.

We will wrestle our crowns from the giants we conquer.

It is no secret that grief has always fallen to people of greatness.

The mark of rank in nature Is capacity for pain; And the anguish of the singer Makes the sweetest of the strain.

Tribulation has always marked the trail of the true reformer.

It was true in the story of Paul, Luther, Savonarola, Knox, Wesley, and the rest of God’s mighty army.

They came through great tribulation to their point of power.

Every great book has been written with the author’s blood.

“These are they who have come out of the great tribulation” (Revelation 7:14).

In spite of his blindness, wasn’t Homer the unparalleled poet of the Greeks?

And who wrote the timeless dream of Pilgrim’s Progress?

Was it a prince in royal robes seated on a couch of comfort and ease?

No! The lingering splendor of John Bunyan’s vision gilded the dingy walls of an old English jail in Bedford, while he, a princely prisoner and a glorious genius, made a faithful transcript of the scene.

Great is the easy conqueror; Yet the one who is wounded sore, Breathless, all covered o’er with blood and sweat, Sinks fainting, but fighting evermore— Is greater yet.

There are times when doing nothing demands much greater strength than taking action. Maintaining composure is often the best evidence of power.

Even to the vilest and deadliest of charges, Jesus responded with deep, unbroken silence. His silence was so profound, it caused His accusers and spectators to wonder in awe. To the greatest insults, the most violent treatment, and to mockery that would bring righteous indignation to the feeblest of hearts, He responded with voiceless, confident calmness. Those who are unjustly accused, and mistreated without cause, know the tremendous strength that is necessary to keep silent and to leave revenge to God.

Men may misjudge your aim, Think they have cause to blame, Say, you are wrong; Keep on your quiet way, Christ is the Judge, not they, Fear not, be strong.

The apostle Paul said, “None of these things move me” (Acts 20:24 KJV). He did not say, “None of these things hurt me.” It is one thing to be hurt, and quite another to be moved. Paul had a very tender heart, for we do not read of any other apostle who cried as he did. It takes a strong man to cry. “Jesus wept” (John 11:35), and He was the strongest man that ever lived.

Therefore it does not say, “None of these things hurt me.” The apostle Paul had determined not to move from what he believed was right. He did not value things as we are prone to do. He never looked for the easy way, and placed no value on his mortal life. He only cared about one thing, and that was his loyalty to Christ—to gain Christ’s smile. To Paul, more than to any other man, doing Christ’s work was his earthly pay, but gaining Christ’s smile was heaven. MARGARET BOTTOME

There is a joy that is attained and another joy that is given. The first joy needs things to make it joy—congenial circumstances, attentive friends; the second joy joys because it is filled with a bubbling spring of internal and eternal gladness—a gladness because it is always in God, and God is always in it. It glows and grows under all circumstances—it sings because it is a song.

It sings after prayer . “Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” (John 16:24). This implies that there must have been a need, a place to fill. As we believe and receive, the song sings!

It sings after faith. “Even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8). Nothing seen and nothing sensed, at least not by natural sense—yet the song sang and with a fullness of glory not before known.

It sings after yielding. “Once more the humble will rejoice in the LORD” (Isaiah 29:19). Making room for the Lord is a secret of receiv ing more of Himself.

It sings after sorrow. “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing [singing] comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). He who is Light, who gives the morning signal to every feathered songster to tune his song, will also give you a song that sings.

It sings after sacrifice. “Neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy” (Acts 20:24 KJV).

Did you ever find the song that sang of itself in the quiet of your closet, when you heard His “Yes” to your prayer for His glory to come on earth? When nothing was seen of His working for you and your loved ones, did you hear the sweet strains of the song that sang?

The world awaits you—the singer with the new song!

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell: yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven.

None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy.

I will speak of thy testimonies . . . before kings, and will not be ashamed.