Let us turn every circumstance of the day into an occasion of communion with God. Things of small amount will then bring us great blessings.
In small points of obedience are found the best test of the soul’s state.
What great grace it needs to find no excuses for our little faults!—still greater to confess them!
Fruit
God sometimes sends us a wintry season that we may the better bring forth summer fruit.
It is the way of the Lord to work for a season, as it were, under ground: and as the seed that dies in the earth, through dying, comes to life, so God will seem to cut off the hope of fruit of our labour; yet when we have humbled ourselves under His hand, and He has secured the glory to Himself, He will put forth His power and bring to life our buried hopes.
There may be much communion with God when there is but little comfort in the soul, and much fruitfulness when there is but little joy and gladness. We bear fruit when we credit the Word of God against appearances, and when we submit our will to His.
There is no security for our bringing forth fruit in time to come, if we are not bringing forth fruit in the present hour.
How often we fail and miscarry toward the end of a trial of patience!
Do not expect to make great strides at once in believing; or that deep sanctification is to be wrought in a day.