September 2

The soul’s need of quiet

“In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength” (Isa. 30:15).
“Ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly” (Acts 19:36).
“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psa. 46:10).

I seem to hear a deep sigh from the heart of many a true servant of God, “faint yet pursuing,” whose soul is athirst for the Living God and for the calm and the silence in which he may hear the divine voice, but who sees no way of escape from the pressing claims of earthly duty. The case of such (which has also been my own) calls forth my deepest sympathy. “With God all things are possible.” Cease from conflict with circumstances, from this “toiling in rowing,” from this breathless swimming against the tide. Put the matter into His hands. “There was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour” at His command; silence even of the angelic voices. He can create a silence around you, and trace a clear path for your feet to enter into the Holy of Holies, where you shall find Him and hear His voice.
—Josephine Butler.


Lord, what a change within us one short hour
Spent in Thy presence would prevail to make!
What heavy burdens from our bosoms take,
What parched grounds revive, as with a shower;
We kneel, and all around us seems to lower;
We rise, and all, the distant and the near
Stands forth in sunny outline brave and clear.

We kneel, how weak! We rise, how full of power!
Why, therefore, should we do ourselves this wrong,
Or others, that we are not always strong;
That we are ever overborne with care;
That we should ever weak or heartless be,
Anxious or troubled, when with us is prayer,
And joy and strength and courage are with Thee?
—Richard Chenevix Trench.

Too much taken up with our work, we may forget our Master. It is possible to have the hand full, and the heart empty. Taken up with our Master we cannot forget our work; if the heart is filled with His love, how can the hands not be active in His service?
—A. Monod.

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