November 24

Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. — Ps 31:24

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. — John 14:27

In heavenly love abiding,
No change my heart shall fear;
And safe is such confiding,
For nothing changes here.
—A. L. WARING.

A true Christian, that hath power over his own will, may live nobly and happily, and enjoy a clear heaven within the serenity of his own mind perpetually. When the sea of this world is most rough and tempestuous about him, then can he ride safely at anchor within the haven, by a sweet compliance of his will with God’s will. He can look about him, and with an even and indifferent mind behold the world either to smile or frown upon him; neither will he abate of the least of his contentment for all the ill and unkind usage he meets withal in this life. He that hath got the mastery over his own will feels no violence from without, finds no contests within; and when God calls for him out of this state of mortality, he finds in himself a power to lay down his own life; neither is it so much taken from him, as quietly and freely surrendered up by him.
—DR. JOHN SMITH.