WHEN NEAR HIM I AM IN HIS PEACE

^[p. 118] WHEN NEAR HIM I AM IN HIS PEACE

Is it not a wonderful thing that we can go to God about everything? It is not only to get answers to our requests, but to learn His mind about them. In Jewish times they turned to the priest with the Urim and the Thummim, but how much better for us to turn to the love of the One who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He is, blessed be His name, ever in the aspect to suit us. If He is thinking of you, He must present Himself to you as your need requires. I believe there is more gained in His presence than we generally admit. How could I have the peace of God if I had not been impressed with it in His presence? My difficulties might remain the same, but I am not the same. I have been impressed in my interview with Him with His peace. I really have no light about anything but from Him, and hence the importance of being in His presence, as the sanctuary typified. I believe we cannot speak of anything but as we learn from Him. I must come to Him to learn His mind. I may get a favourable or an unfavourable answer, but I cannot tell which it may be until I am near Him. He impresses me by Himself also, which I consider of great value. In the storm with the disciples in the ship He was asleep; if they had been near Him in spirit — really identified with Him, they would have been as calm as He was. But they were unbelieving; they awoke Him, and He only brought about what He had indicated in His own Person — there was a “great calm”.

As to the use of means, I see that our blessed Lord never made little of any means present; He considered the present means adequate for the emergency.

I am very glad to hear of dear ———— being at ————. In watering others one is watered oneself. This is certainly most true in praying for others.