the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Our Daily Homily - Volume 2
Proverbs 14:30—A Tranquil Heart. (R.V., marg.)
If we would have a tranquil heart, we must resolutely put from us the ambition to get name and reputation among men, to exert wider influence for its own sake, and to amass large accumulation of money. Directly we begin to vie with others, to emulate them, or compare our position and influence with theirs; directly we allow strong desires to roam unchecked through our nature; directly we live on the breath of popular applause, we are like those who step from the pier on a rocking boat—all hope of tranquillity is at an end.
"In God’s will," Dante said, "is our peace." When the government is on his shoulder, of its increase and of our peace there is no end. Would you have your peace flow as a river?—then rest in the Lord, be silent unto Him; fret not thyself; turn away from the things that are seen and temporal; set thy face to those that are unseen and eternal. Live in the secret place of the Most High, and hide under the shadow of the Almighty. Say of the Lord that He is thy fortress and high tower. Put God between thyself and everything. Let the one aim of thy life be to please Him, and do the one small piece of work He has entrusted thee with. Look away from all others to Him alone. And learn to look out on others with a tender sympathetic gaze, turning to prayer about them and all things else that might ruffle and sadden. Let all thy requests be made known unto God, so shall his peace keep heart and mind.
"Draw me to Thee, till far within thy rest,
In stillness of thy peace, thy voice I hear—
For ever quieted upon thy breast,
So loved, so near."
