Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Today I will be sharing an excerpt devotional from Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman, this is a great devotional read by myself and many others I know. I highly recommend this book! It seems today our author has taken the time to remind us that great people are molded by hard times...
"None of these things move me." Acts 20:24
We read in the Book of Samuel that the moment that David was crowned at Hebron, "All the Philistines came up to see David." And the moment we get anything from the Lord worth contending for, then the Devil comes to see us.
When the enemy meets us at the threshold of any great work for God, let us accept it as "a token of salvation," and then claim double blessing, victory, and power. Power is developed by resistance. The cannon carries twice as far because the exploding power has to find its way through resistance. The way electricity is produced in the powerhouse yonder is by the sharp friction of the revolving wheels. And so we shall find some day that even Satan has been one of God's agencies of blessing. FROM DAYS OF HEAVEN UPON EARTH
A hero is not fed on sweets,
Daily his own heart he eats;
Chambers of the great are jails,
And head winds right for royal sails.
EMERSON
Tribulation is the way to triumph. The valleyway opens into the highway. Tribulation's imprint is on all great things. Crowns are cast in crucibles. Chains of character that wind about the feet of God are forged in earthly flames. No man is greatest victor till he has trodden the winepress of woe. With seams of anguish deep in His brow, the "Man of Sorrow" said, "In this world ye shall have tribulation"-but after this sob comes the psalm of promise, "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." The footprints are traceable everywhere. Bloodmarks stain the steps that lead to thrones. Scars are the price of scepters. Our crowns will be wrestled from the giants we conquer. Grief has always been the lot of greatness. It is an open secret.
The mark of rank in nature
Is the capacity of pain;
And the anguish of the singer
Makes the sweetest of the strain.
Tribulation has always marked the way of the true reformer. It is the story of Paul, Luther, Savonarola, Knox, Wesley, and all the rest of the mighty army. They came through great tribulation to their place of power.
Every great book has been written with the author's blood. "These are they that have come out of great tribulations." Who was the peerless poet of the Greeks? Homer. But that illustrious singer was blind. Who wrote the fadeless dream of Pilgrim's Progress? A prince of royal purple upon the couch of ease? Nay! The trailing splendor of that vision gilded the dingy walls of old Bedford jail while John Bunyan, a princely prisoner, a glorious genious, made a faithful transcript of the scene.
Great is the facile conqueror;
Yet haply, he, who, wounded sore,
Breathless, all covered o'er with blood and sweat,
Sinks fainting, but fighting evermore-
Is greater yet.
I myself found this very inspiring and reminded me that nothing in our lives can be used for our worse if we put our Lord first. A lot of times when I pray I find myself scared of what may come, but then am reminded I have no need to fear because I have the Lord holding my hand through anything that may happen. And that I will come out more spiritually beautiful than I was before.
On another note, be watching out for some new informational articles coming up! We are looking to help you make your personal devotions deeper and more fulfilling by giving you some tips and tricks. So, stay tuned!
Blessings,
Team GT