Security from Yesterday. "God requireth that which is past." At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise from remembering the yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God's grace is apt to be checked by the memory of yesterday's sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them in order to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual culture for the future. God reminds us of the past lest we get into a shallow security in the present.

Security for To-morrow. "For the Lord will go before you." This is a gracious revelation, that God will garrison where we have failed to. He will watch lest things trip us up again into like failure, as they assuredly would do if He were not our reward. God's hand reaches back to the past and makes a clearing-house for conscience.

Security for To-day. "For ye shall not go out with haste." As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, unremembering delight, nor with the flight of impulsive thoughtlessness, but with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. Our yesterdays present irreparable things to us; it is true that we have lost opportunities which will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future.

Let the past sleep, but let it sleep on the bosom of Christ.

Leave the Irreparable Past in His hands, and step out into the Irresistible Future with Him.

I do not believe we have even begun to understand the wonderful power there is in being still. We are in such a hurry, always doing, that we are in danger of not allowing God the opportunity to work. You may be sure that God will never say to us, “Stand still,” “Sit still,” or “Be still,” unless He is going to do something. This is our problem regarding the Christian life: we want to do something to be Christians, instead of allowing Him to work in us.

Think of how still you stand when your picture is being taken, as the photographer captures your likeness on film. God has one eternal purpose for us: that we should be “conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29 KJV). But in order for that to happen, we must stand still. We hear so much today about being active, but maybe we need to learn what it means to be quiet. Crumbs

Sit still, my children! Just sit calmly still! Nor deem these days—these waiting days—as ill! The One who loves you best, who plans your way, Has not forgotten your great need today! And, if He waits, it’s sure He waits to prove To you, His tender child, His heart’s deep love.

Sit still, my children! Just sit calmly still! You greatly long to know your dear Lord’s will! While anxious thoughts would almost steal their way Corrodingly within, because of His delay— Persuade yourself in simple faith to rest That He, who knows and loves, will do the best.

Sit still, my children! Just sit calmly still! Nor move one step, not even one, until His way has opened. Then, ah then, how sweet! How glad your heart, and then how swift your feet, Your inner being then, ah then, how strong! And waiting days not counted then too long.

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still! What higher service could you for Him fill? It’s hard! ah yes! But choicest things must cost! For lack of losing all how much is lost! It’s hard, it’s true! But then—He gives you grace To count the hardest spot the sweetest place.

J. DANSON SMITH