Gems for the Week
November 10
"The shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked (evil one)." (Ephesians 6:16)
The word used for shield signifies a great oblong shield which covers the whole body, and the dart mentioned here is the kind which when it strikes a hard object catches fire. The promise is that when the dart strikes the great shield of faith, though it is set on fire, it is quenched. It cannot pierce the shield. It cannot burn the one who is behind the shield. The promise covers all manner of darts. The kind of dart hurled against us makes no difference to the promise. "All" means all. Do we expect "all" to mean all? Is there a secret fear in our hearts about a certain kind of temptation which perhaps we shall not be able to overcome? Away with this fear! It is of the devil. The shield of faith is ready to be taken up and used. If we take it up and use it, not a single dart of any sort will pierce it. "All" means all. (Amy Carmichael - Edges of His Ways)
N.J. Hiebert # 3519
November 11
"If thou canst believe, all things are possible
to him that believeth" (Mark 9:23)
Prayer takes the people to the Bank of Faith, and obtains the golden blessing. Mind how you pray! Pray! Make real business of it! Never let it be a dead formality! People pray a long time, but do not get what they are supposed to ask for, because they do not plead the promise in a truthful business-like way. If you were to go into a bank and stand an hour talking to the clerk, and then come out again without your cash, what would be the good of it? (C.H. Spurgeon)
Have you ever given God the chance to answer the Prayer of Faith? Do not let us lose our last chance of believing by waiting till the dawn has broken into day! (Lillias Trotter)
If radio's slim finger can pluck a melody
From night, and toss it over a continent or sea;
If the petaled white notes of a violin
Are blown across a mountain or a city's din;
Are blown across a mountain or a city's din;
If songs, like crimson roses, are culled from thin blue air -
Why should mortals wonder if God hears prayer?
(ETHEL ROMIG FULLER)
When all things can be accomplished by prayer,
why not yield to the test?
Why not pray on? And through?
(Springs in the Valley)
N.J. Hiebert # 3520
