God is so good to continue blessing me in my lunch readings. I have my lunch break at a school where I have the room to myself and the internet, so I can eat and read without interruption. An added blessing is that one of my favorite blogs — GirlTalk — is not blocked at work (even though blogs are supposed to be). The blog is currently running a series on anxiety in mothering that I highly recommend to anyone, mother or not. Yesterday’s post was not on the current series, but about “One of Those Days” where human plans and good intentions come to nothing. I highly recommend going to the site and adding it to a healthy blog diet. Here is how Mr. Spurgeon struck again:
One of Those Days
Today was “one of those days.” I woke up late and could barely keep my eyes open as I began my morning routine. I was behind schedule. All of my well thought out plans for my morning seemed lost. On days like this, the temptation to live by my emotions looms large. Complaining and grumbling were on my tongue. And then I read this, “We are TODAY accepted in the Beloved, TODAY absolved from sin, TODAY acquitted at the bar of God. Oh! Soul-transporting thought.” Mr. Spurgeon strikes again. My grumbling heart stood rebuked. Today is one of those days–one of those amazing days, which find me standing before the bar of God acquitted from all of my sin because of the death of Jesus Christ on my behalf. Yes, Mr. Spurgeon, this is a “soul transporting” thought.
Regardless of what this day holds for you, may the truth of your acceptance in the Beloved reign first in your heart.
The second Spurgeon reading of the day came in my e-mail from HeartLight devotionals:
“Underneath are the everlasting arms.”
— Deuteronomy 33:27
God-the eternal God-is himself our support at all times, and especially
when we are sinking in deep trouble. There are seasons when the
Christian sinks very low in humiliation. Under a deep sense of his
great sinfulness, he is humbled before God till he scarcely knows how
to pray, because he appears, in his own sight, so worthless. Well,
child of God, remember that when thou art at thy worst and lowest, yet
“underneath” thee “are everlasting arms.” Sin may drag thee ever so
low, but Christ’s great atonement is still under all. You may have
descended into the deeps, but you cannot have fallen so low as “the
uttermost”; and to the uttermost he saves. Again, the Christian
sometimes sinks very deeply in sore trial from without. Every earthly
prop is cut away. What then? Still underneath him are “the everlasting
arms.” He cannot fall so deep in distress and affliction but what the
covenant grace of an ever-faithful God will still encircle him. The
Christian may be sinking under trouble from within through fierce
conflict, but even then he cannot be brought so low as to be beyond the
reach of the “everlasting arms”-they are underneath him; and, while
thus sustained, all Satan’s efforts to harm him avail nothing.
This assurance of support is a comfort to any weary but earnest worker
in the service of God. It implies a promise of strength for each day,
grace for each need, and power for each duty. And, further, when death
comes, the promise shall still hold good. When we stand in the midst of
Jordan, we shall be able to say with David, “I will fear no evil, for
thou art with me.” We shall descend into the grave, but we shall go no
lower, for the eternal arms prevent our further fall. All through life,
and at its close, we shall be upheld by the “everlasting arms”-arms
that neither flag nor lose their strength, for “the everlasting God
fainteth not, neither is weary.”
Thankful that He sanctifies His children; thankful that He is gracious and merciful in that sanctification; thankful that underneath are the everlasting arms.
thoughts and songs 