Chapter 34—“Praise Ye The Lord”
“Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.” Have any of
us duly considered how much we have to be thankful for? Do we
remember that the mercies of the Lord are new every morning and
that His faithfulness faileth not? Do we acknowledge our dependence
upon Him and express gratitude for all His favors? On the contrary,
we too often forget that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from
above, and cometh down from the Father of lights.”
How often those who are in health forget the wonderful mercies
that are continued to them day by day, year after year. They render no
tribute of praise to God for all His benefits. But when sickness comes,
God is remembered. The strong desire for recovery leads to earnest
prayer, and this is right. God is our refuge in sickness as in health. But
many do not leave their cases with Him; they encourage weakness and
disease by worrying about themselves. If they would cease repining
and rise above depression and gloom, their recovery would be more
sure. They should remember with gratitude how long they enjoyed
the blessing of health; and should this precious boon be restored to
them, they should not forget that they are under renewed obligations
to their Creator. When the ten lepers were healed, only one returned to
find Jesus and give Him glory. Let us not be like the unthinking nine,
whose hearts were untouched by the mercy of God.
God is love. He has a care for the creatures He has formed. “Like
as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.”
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Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that
we should be called the sons of God.” What a precious privilege is this,
that we may be sons and daughters of the Most High, heirs of God and
joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Then let us not mourn and grieve because
in this life we are not free from disappointments and afflictions. If in
the providence of God we are called upon to endure trials, let us accept
the cross and drink the bitter cup, remembering that it is a Father’s
hand that holds it to our lips. Let us trust Him in the darkness as well
as in the day. Can we not believe that He will give us everything that is
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