May 8

A lazy man does not roast his game, but a diligent man prizes his possession. — Prov 12:27 BSB

If the Lord has done anything for our souls through His Spirit and grace, and has given us something to taste, handle, and enjoy, we know there is substance and reality in the things we believe. Religion becomes our chief employment—our daily meditation and exercise. It occupies our thoughts and lies with the greatest weight upon our minds, as it should, for it is our all. If our religion comes from God, it will be the most important thing in our hearts.

It's true that we are often hindered by sin and the weaknesses of our bodies. We face worldly cares and anxieties, and those involved in business are particularly dragged down from heavenly things to earthly matters. Still, in a person where God has begun His gracious work, religion will remain uppermost in their soul. Even when they feel cold, lifeless in their prayers, or unfeeling in their affections—when they are caught up in the things of this world and feel distant from God—there is something in their heart that struggles upwards. There is a longing for the precious things of Christ and the realities of eternity.