December 30 Daily Devotional

Bible Verse

"Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" (Ps. 73:23–26).

Devotional

Lord, give me more clearly to see your love in all your dealings. Anoint my eye of faith afresh, so that, piercing the dark cloud, I may observe beneath it your heart, all beating with an infinite and a deathless affection towards me.

The cup which my Father has prepared and given me, shall I not drink in deep submission to his holy will? O Lord, I dare not ask that it may pass my lips untasted—I may find a token of your love concealed beneath the bitter draught. Your will be done.

I would be nearer to you. And since you, my blessed Lord, were a sufferer—your sufferings now are all passed—I would have fellowship with you in your sufferings, and thus be made conformable to your death. Grant me grace, that patience may have her perfect work, wanting nothing. Calm this perturbed mind. Tranquilize this ruffled spirit. Bind up this bruised and broken heart. Say to these troubled waters in which I wade, "Peace, be still."

Jesus, I throw myself upon your gentle bosom. To whom can I, would I, tell my grief except to you? To whom can I, would I, unveil my sorrow, except to you? O Lord! It is too tender for any eye, too deep for any hand, but yours.

I bless you that I am shut up to you, my God. "Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you."

You did hear my prayer, and have answered me, "though as by fire." I asked for health of soul, and you gave sickness of body. I asked you to possess my entire heart, and you broke my idol. I asked that I might more deeply drink of the fountain of your love, and you broke my cistern. I asked to sit beneath your shadow with greater delight, and you smote my gourd. I asked for deeper heart-holiness, and you opened to me more widely the chambers of imagery. But it is well; it is all well. "Though [you] slay me, yet will I trust [you]" (Job 13:15 NKJV).

Divine and holy Comforter, lead me to Jesus, my comfort. Witness to my spirit that I am a child of God, though an erring and a chastened one.

Lord! I come to you! My soul would sincerely expand her wings, and fly to its home. Let me go, for the day breaks. Come to me, or let me come to you. Ever with you, Lord, oh! that will be heaven indeed. Why do your chariot wheels tarry so long? Hasten, blessed Savior, and dissolve my chain, and let me spring into glory, and see your unclouded face, and drink of the river of your love, and drink—forever.

The sands of time are sinking, the dawn of Heaven breaks;
the summer morn I've sighed for— the fair, sweet morn awakes;
dark, dark hath been the midnight, but Dayspring is at hand,
and glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel's land.

(Anne R. Cousin, 1857, from Samuel Rutherford, ca. 1600–1661)

Be sure to read the Preface by Octavius Winslow and A Note from the Editor by Larry E. Wilson.

Larry Wilson is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. In addition to having served as the General Secretary of the Committee on Christian Education of the OPC (2000–2004) and having written a number of articles and booklets (such as God's Words for Worship and Why Does the OPC Baptize Infants) for New Horizons and elsewhere, he has pastored OPC churches in Minnesota, Indiana, and Ohio. We are grateful to him for his editing of Morning Thoughts, the OPC Daily Devotional for 2011.