It's Just Been One of Those Days

You know which ones I mean. Sometimes it can be one of those "weeks" or one of those "seasons." But with the current economic situation, a "day" is all I can afford. Anyway, besides not feeling well, it was a day of disappointments where one thing after another either went wrong, or didn't go at all. I did not dare say, "Well, at least it can't get any worse," for fear of inviting...well,... something worse. (I am really not superstitious; but that is what usually happens in movies.)

So, I am feeling like I am at the end of my rope with lots of empty air under my feet, and I cast about for something to hold on to ____and Psalm 51 immediately comes to mind. "Psalm 51? Not something more upbeat to lift the spirits?" Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness; according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. (Ps. 51:1) No, Psalm 51 didn't perk me up , but it did get my mind onto the right track.

A few minutes later, I went to the bed room to lie down, and I remembered a stanza from  a hymn we used to sing several years ago. Then I started singing it. The hymn was I Will Sing The Wondrous Story. The stanza that came into my mind was:

Days of darkness still come o'er me
Sorrow's paths I often tread:
But the Savior still is with me,
By His hand I'm safely led.

Yes, I'll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ who died for me-
Sing it with the saints in glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.

Still not out of my doldrums, I clicked on Spurgeon's Morning and Evening on my desktop screen. I scrolled ahead to the morning meditation for September 3rd, and there it was, just what I needed. Here is what lifted my heart to heaven this afternoon:

“Thou whom my soul loveth.”

Song of Solomon 1:7

It is well to be able, without any “if” or “but,” to say of the Lord Jesus—“Thou whom my soul loveth.” Many can only say of Jesus that they hope they love him; they trust they love him; but only a poor and shallow experience will be content to stay here. No one ought to give any rest to his spirit till he feels quite sure about a matter of such vital importance. We ought not to be satisfied with a superficial hope that Jesus loves us, and with a bare trust that we love him. The old saints did not generally speak with “buts,” and “ifs,” and “hopes,” and “trusts,” but they spoke positively and plainly. “I know whom I have believed,” saith Paul. “I know that my Redeemer liveth,” saith Job. Get positive knowledge of your love of Jesus, and be not satisfied till you can speak of your interest in him as a reality, which you have made sure by having received the witness of the Holy Spirit, and his seal upon your soul by faith.

True love to Christ is in every case the Holy Spirit’s work, and must be wrought in the heart by him. He is the efficient cause of it; but the logical reason why we love Jesus lies in himself. Why do we love Jesus? Because he first loved us. Why do we love Jesus? Because he “gave himself for us.” We have life through his death; we have peace through his blood. Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor. Why do we love Jesus? Because of the excellency of his person. We are filled with a sense of his beauty! an admiration of his charms, a consciousness of his infinite perfection! His greatness, goodness, and loveliness, in one resplendent ray, combine to enchant the soul till it is so ravished that it exclaims, “Yea, he is altogether lovely.” Blessed love this—a love which binds the heart with chains more soft than silk, and yet more firm than adamant!

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Thanks to Lord Jesus Christ, and thanks to Mr. Spurgeon.