THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S that God has undertaken, then our prayer will turn to praise, “ We which have believed do enter into rest.” Heb. 4:3. As long as we keep our hands upon our prayers, God cannot answer them because we have not entered into rest. When our prayers pass away froin ourselves to God, out of our sight and thought and feeling, God can answer them because we enter into rest. “ Com mit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass.” God said to Joshua, “ See, I have given into thine hands, Jericho.” Joshua could consider it a finished transaction while the walls of Jericho were yet standing, because God means what He says. Every time the prayer of faith is offered, a drop of sweet perfume is distilled into those golden vials which when opened will fill all Heaven with fragrance. SUNDAY, April 23. Luke 9:28-36. The Ministry of Fear. It was natural that the disciples should fear as they entered into the cloud. It was a new experience and made a sharp and sudden demand upon faith. We love the sunshine, but God also works in the shadow. A frequent agency is the cloud and an effective weapon is fear. Alarm brings a man to himself. Subterfuge and pretext fall . away and the true condition stands re vealed. Fear opens the eye and the ear and softens the heart as well. When we are afraid we are going to drown, we grasp the life-preserver and hold on with all the strength we have. Matt. 14:30. The sanest and safest days of life are those in which a sense of peril has filled us with fear until we do not dare to take a single step without God. As the law is our schoolmaster to lead us to Christ, so fear is a servant that brings us to faith. “ What time I am afraid I will trust in thee.” MONDAY, April 24. Isaiah 6:1-8. God Calls Isaiah. Isaiah stands pre-eminent among the characters of the Bible. He lived in the seventh century before Christ and his prophetic career covered a period of over fifty years. According to tradition he lived to be one hundred years old, and suffered martyrdom by being sawn asunder by the order of Manasseh. Heb. 11:37. He is called the evangelical prophet, and of all those who soared on aspiring pinions to greet the Sun of Righteousness, it was his privilege to mount the highest and reflect from his
40& THURSDAY, April 20. 1 Pet. 5:1-11. The Grace of Humility. Humility comes from a Latin word meaning the ground. The violet is the Symbol of meekness among the flowers because it is so near the ground. The poet Faber has sung; “ The violet in the mossy bank Scarce bends its pliant form, While overhead the autumnal wood Is thundering in the storm.” Throughout the Scriptures a premium Is placed on meekness, while penalties are put on pride. Unto the meek the .promise is given that they shall be guided in judgment and taught the way of the Lord. Psalm 25:9. The en grafted Word is to be received with meekness. Jas. 1:21. Those who op pose the truth are to be instructed in meekness. 2 Tim. 2:25. An answer is to be given in meekness to every one asking a reason for the Christian’s hope. 1 Pet. 3:15. Meekness is to be shown to all men. Tit. 3:2. It is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Gal. 5:23. It gives fitness for ruling -since the meek are to 'inherit the earth. Matt. 5:5. It is closely connected with righteousness. Zeph. 2:3. FRIDAY, April 21. 1 Pet. 1:1-9. The Trial of Faith- No work can rest on a better founda tion than that of faith. It is a blessed privilege to live by faith. Our trials of faith are not to be looked upon as afflictions from which we pray to be delivered. They are rather our greatest blessings. From them we learn our most precious lessons. John Wesley was walking with a certain man whose faith was being sorely tested, who said, “ Alas! Mr. Wesley, I know not what to do.” Just then they passed a stone wall. A cow stood behind it looking over it. “ Do you know,” said Wesley, “ why the cow looks over the wall?” “ I do not,” replied his friend. “ I will tell you,” answered Wesley, “ it is be cause she cannot look through it. That is what we must do with all our trou bles, look over them and above them.” Happy are they who are able to look over all the circumstances that sur round them into thè face of Infinite Love and Almighty Power. “My God shall supply all your need.” SATURDAY, April 22. Rev. 5:1-8. What Becomes of Our Prayers? When a prayer of faith has been- of fered, "what becomes of it? Does God take it in hand or not? If we believe
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