September 3

The Lord shall choose our inheritance for us. - Psalms 47:4.

HOW much very often depends upon a single step in life. Our reputation, our comfort, our usefulness, our character, may depend upon the movement, and repentance may be quartered upon us for life. The effects with regard to the present state may be irretrievable. We are commanded therefore to walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise. We are morally to keep always awake; to have our senses exercised to discern between good and evil. We are always to watch and pray. This should induce us to repair to God in humble and earnest prayer and say, Thou, Lord, shalt choose our inheritance for us; for if we do not pray as well as watch, we shall watch in vain. And those who are just stepping into life, who are issuing into the world, should say from this time unto God, “Thou art my Father, he thou the guide of my youth.” And those who are in perplexity, and in difficulty, should wait upon God, and let integrity and uprightness govern them in all their movements; and not only wait upon God in prayer for direction, but they should wait for the manifestation of God’s will as displayed in the events of providence.

Always remember the case of the Jews; they had a pathless wilderness before them, and how were they to find the way? Oh, there was a fiery cloud and pillar to guide them-fiery by night and cloudy by day. By this they were always to be influenced; and if the cloud began to move, though it were at midnight, the watchman immediately ran through the camp exclaiming, “The pillar is moving.” “In what direction?” “In such a direction,” and they immediately followed it: if it turned to the right, they turned; if it turned to the left they turned; when it paused, if it were for a day, or a week, or a month, or a year, they rested too. They would not go without their guide, and they would not suffer their guide to go without them.

“Through each perplexing path of life

My wandering footsteps guide,

Give me each day my daily bread,

And raiment fit provide.

Such blessings from thy gracious hand,

Lord, humbly I emplore,

And thou shalt be my chosen God

And portion evermore.”