What is this “spacious place”? What can it be but God Himself—the infinite Being through whom all other beings find their source and their end of life? God is indeed a “spacious place.” And it was through humiliation, degradation, and a sense of worthlessness that David was taken to it.

MADAME GUYON

“I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself” (Exodus 19:4).

Fearing to launch on “full surrender’s” tide, I asked the Lord where would its waters glide My little boat, “To troubled seas I dread?” “Unto Myself,” He said.

Weeping beside an open grave I stood, In bitterness of soul I cried to God: “Where leads this path of sorrow that I tread?” “Unto Myself,” He said.

Striving for souls, I loved the work too well; Then disappointments came; I could not tell The reason, till He said, “I am your all; Unto Myself I call.”

Watching my heroes—those I love the best— I saw them fail; they could not stand the test, Even by this the Lord, through tears not few, Unto Himself me drew.

Unto Himself! No earthly tongue can tell The bliss I find, since in His heart I dwell; The things that charmed me once seem all as naught; Unto Himself I’m brought.

SELECTED

[That rest includes victory:] “The LORD gave them rest on every side. . . . The LORD gave all their enemies into their hands.” JOSHUA 21:44

Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our LORD Jesus Christ. 1 CORINTHIANS 15:57

A prominent believer once told of his mother, who was a very anxious and troubled Christian. He would often talk with her for hours, trying to convince her of the sinfulness of worrying, but to no avail. She was like the elderly woman who once said that she had suffered a great deal, especially from the troubles that never came.

Then one morning his mother came to breakfast with a smile adorning her face. He asked her what had happened, and she began describing a dream she had in the night. In her dream, she was walking along a highway with a large crowd of people, all of whom seemed very tired and burdened. The people were all carrying little black bundles, and she noticed that more bundles were being dropped along the way by numerous repulsive-looking creatures that seemed quite demonic in nature. As the bundles were dropped, the people stooped down to pick them up and carry them.

Like everyone else in her dream, she also carried her needless load, being weighted down with the Devil’s bundles. After a while, she looked up and saw a Man whose face was loving and bright as He moved through the crowd, comforting the people. Finally He came to her, and she realized it was her Savior. She looked at Him, telling Him how tired she was, and He smiled sadly and said, “My dear child, these bundles you carry are not from me, and you have no need of them. They are the Devil’s burdens, and they are wearing out your life. You need to drop them and simply refuse to touch them with even one of your fingers. Then you will find your path easy, and you will feel as if ‘I carried you on eagles’ wings’ [Exodus 19:4].”

The Savior touched her hand, and peace and joy quickly filled her soul. As she saw herself in her dream casting her burdens to the ground and ready to throw herself at His feet in joyful thanksgiving, she suddenly awoke, finding that all her worries were gone.

From that day forward to the end of her life, she was the most cheerful and happy member of her family.

And the night will be filled with music,

And the cares that besiege the day,

Will fold their tents like the Arabs,

And will silently steal away.

HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW

How we have wondered at those events which stirred us up and set us loose from ties of home and friends; and how we have marveled at the ruthlessness of those providences which sent us headlong from our assured places into the uncertainties of what seemed empty space around and beneath us. But now we understand that every experience was in God’s love and for the fulfillment of His high purposes toward us. No matter what happened, we soon saw His form and heard His heartening cry; and never did we grow weary but we immediately found that strong wings were beneath us. And oh, the wonder of it! when God brought us home to our resting-place beside Himself! HENRY W. FROST

Unto Myself, My dear child, I would bring thee! Who like Myself thy sure solace can be? Who can reach down, down so deeply within thee? Give to thy heart such a full sympathy? Mournest thou sore that thy loved ones have failed thee? Failed, sadly failed thy true comfort to be? “Why did they fail” dost thou ask? Let Me whisper— “That thou should’st find thy heart’s comfort in Me.” Unto Myself! Ah, no not unto others, Dearest, or sweetest, or fairest, or best; Only in Me lieth unchanging solace; Only in Me is thy promise of rest! Child of My love, to Myself I would bring thee! Not to some place of most heavenly bliss: Places, like people, may all disappoint thee, Till thou hast learned to drink higher than this. Unto Myself, My dear child, I would bring thee! None like Myself thy full portion can be! While, in My heart, there is hunger and longing That I might find choicest treasure in thee. Unto Myself! To Myself—not My service! Then to most sweetly and certainly prove That I can make thee My channel of blessing, Use thee to shed forth the wealth of My love. J. DANSON SMITH

I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.—In his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.—As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the Lord alone did lead him.

Even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.—This God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

Cast thy burden upon the Lord , and he shall sustain thee.—Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.