God Loves Hard Places

"Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

We are in the midst of the storm of life. The believing saints of God are on board the ship. Someone looks to the horizon and warns, "We are directly in the path of the typhoon! We are as good as dead. We will surely be dashed to pieces on the rocks!"

But calmly someone else advises, "Look down, look down! We have an anchor!" We look, but the depth is too great. We cannot see the anchor. But the anchor is there. It grips the immovable rock and holds fast. Thus the ship outrides the storm.

The Holy Spirit has assured us that we have an Anchor, steadfast and sure, that keeps the soul. The Spirit is saying to us, "Keep on believing. Pursue holiness. Show diligence and hold full assurance of faith to the very end. Follow those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

"He is faithful!"

Nearly all the great examples of faith and victorious grace which we find in the Scriptures came out of situations of extremity and distress. God loves hard places, and faith is usually born of danger and extremity.

~A. W. Tozer~

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The Holy Spirit is Waiting

"My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me" (Psalm 63:8)

I am reminded that one old saint was asked, "Which is the more important: reading God's Word or praying?" To which he replied, "Which is more important to a bird: the right wing or the left?" The writer to the Hebrews was telling his readers - and telling us - that Christians must believe ALL there is to be believed. They are to do ALL that the Word commands them to do. Those two wings take the Christian up to God!

God has purposefully given us a mental capacity with wide human boundaries. Beyond that, if we are justified, regenerated believers, He has given us an entirely new spiritual capacity. God wants us to believe, to think, to meditate, to consider His Word. He has promised that the Holy Spirit is waiting to teach us. He has assured us concerning all of our blessings in Jesus Christ.

O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made my thirsty for more. I want to want Thee; I long t be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory.

~A. W. Tozer~