Streams in the Desert

Devotional For

February 21

      Himself
      
      "He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me; because he delighted in me" (Ps. 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" (Exod. 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 asnaught;
      Unto Himself I'm brought.
      
      --selected