May 27

Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding. — Prov 3:5

To your judgments give ye not the reins
With too much eagerness, like him who ere
The corn be ripe, is fain to count the grains:
For I have seen the briar through the winter snows
Look sharp and stiff—yet on a future day
High on its summit bear the tender rose:
And ship I’ve seen, that through the storm hath passed,
Securely bounding o’er the watery way,
At entrance of the harbor wrecked at last.
— Dante, translated by Wright.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me: As he died to make men holy, let us die to make them free, While God is marching on.
— Julia Ward Howe.

Prayer

Lord God, help me to know my ability, that I may not attempt with weakness that which requires strength to undertake; and make me stable that I may not relax vigilance even though victory seems assured. Amen.