Daily Devotionals

Streams in the Desert

Devotional: August 21st

"He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me; because he delighted in me" (Psalms 18:19).

And what is this "large place"? What can it be but God Himself, that infinite Being in whom all other beings and all other streams of life terminate? God is a large place indeed. And it was through humiliation, through abasement, through nothingness that David was brought into it.-- Madame Guyon

"I bare you on eagle’s wings, and brought you unto myself" (Exodus 19:4).

Fearing to launch on "full surrender’s" tide,

I asked the Lord where would its waters glide

My little bark, "To troubled seas I dread?"

"Unto Myself," He said.

Weeping beside an open grave I stood,

In bitterness of soul I cried to God:

"Where leads this path of sorrow that I tread?"

"Unto Myself," He said.

Striving for souls, I loved the work too well;

Then disappointments came; I could not tell

The reason, till He said, "I am thine all;

Unto Myself I call."

Watching my heroes-- those I loved the best--

I saw them fail; they could not stand the test,

Even by this the Lord, through tears not few,

Unto Himself me drew.

Unto Himself! No earthly tongue can tell

The bliss I find, since in His heart I dwell;

The things that charmed me once seem all as naught;

Unto Himself I’m brought.

-- Selected