MARCH 31

I will be with him in trouble.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:

I will be with him in trouble;

I will deliver him, and honour him. Psalms 91:15

Sin is the parent of trouble; all sorrow originated in departing from God.

It is generally occasioned by transgression, or sent as a preventative to a greater evil; it may be occasioned by good, for saints are sometimes persecuted for righteousness’ sake.

It is intended to correct, improve, and to bring us near to God. Whatever may be our trouble, if we are the Lord’s He is with us; and with us for the most gracious purposes.

He fixes the period of our troubles, nor can they continue longer then He sees needful, He regulates the heat of the furnace, nor will He suffer us to be tried more than we are able to bear, He sanctifies our troubles, and causes them to work for our good.

He delivers out of trouble, when the purposes of His love are accomplished.  In every trouble, remember God is now especially present. He is with you to hear your prayer, increase your strength, direct your way, and make you a conqueror.

His grace is sufficient; His presence is sure; your deliverance in His time and way is certain.

Therefore, “wait on the Lord, be of good courage; He will strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord.”

He that hath made his refuge God,

Shall find a most secure abode;

Shall walk all day beneath His shade,

And there at night shall rest his head.

James Smith

Yes, He Loved The People

MARCH 30

Yea, He loved the people.

Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand:

and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall

receive of thy words.   Deuteronomy 33:3

And what were, the people whom He loved? Poor, oppressed, rebellious, stiff-neck, hardhearted, unworthy creatures. Just such are His people by nature now. Sure are we. Yet he loved us; pities us; and distinguishes us from others around us.

He spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all; and with Him, He will freely give us all things. Though He has not yet all His people with Him, yet He has Jesus sitting at His right hand, who is their Representative; the express image and exact lightness of His elect.

All the rays of His love centre in Him, who is the head of His body the Church. All the streams of delight empty themselves into Him, and through Him flow down to every believer on earth.

As He loveth Christ, so He loveth us; while He loveth Jesus, He will love us; for Christ and we are one.

What is done to us, is done to Him, and what is done to, or bestowed upon Him, as man and Mediator, is done to and bestowed upon us.

Oh, glorious mystery of infinite and eternal love!  Oh, direct my heart into this love of God!

O love of unexampled kind!

That leaves all the thought so far behind;

Where length, and breadth, and depth, and height,

Are lost to my astonish’d  sight;

Lord, shed abroad that love of Thine

In this poor sinful heart of mine.

James Smith

Cease Ye From Man.

MARCH 29

Cease  ye from man.

Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils:

for wherein is he to be accounted of?     Isaiah 2:22

Never trust him, for his heart is deceitful; never expect from him, for he is an empty cistern; never follow him, for he is a false guide.

Cursed be the man who trusts in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.

Trust ye not in a friend.

One object of trust is enough;  He has all you want, and has offered to give whenever you ask.

He never did deceive, He never can.

It is impossible for God to lie. Looking to man, dishonours His fulness; trusting in man, is pouring contempt on His word; expecting from man, is overlooking His agency.

If you neglect this loving direction, expect to suffer; if you walk by it, your peace will be like a river, and your soul like a well-watered garden. He knows what he is in man, you do not. He cautions you, because He loves you. He would save you from disappointment, sorrow, and woe.

Come then to the conclusion of the prophet, “Therefore will I look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.”

Never expect from man, but always from God.

Happy they who trust in Jesus!

Sweet their portion is, and sure;

When destruction others seizes,

God will keep His own secure;

Happy people!

Happy, though despised and poor.

James Smith

I Am The Lord's

MARCH 28

I am the Lord’s

Isaiah 44:5 One shall say, I am the LORD'S; and another

shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another

shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD,

and surname himself by the name of Israel.

Not only because He has chosen me from others, in Jesus His beloved Son; nor merely because I am redeemed from among men, by the precious blood of Immanuel; but also because I have surrendered myself up into the Lord’s hands, with all I have and am, to be taught by His Spirit, ruled by His word, supplied by His providence, and devoted to His praise.

The Lord claimed me, and I was enabled to acknowledge the claim; He has a right to me, and that right should never be forgotten by me.

Am I tempted to sin?   to murmur? to despond?

Let this be my preservative, “I am the Lord’s.”

How base, ungrateful, and wicked for me to yield to sin; for me to complain of any of His dispensations; or for me to doubt His goodness or His grace.

I am the Lord’s for life; I shall be the Lord’s in death; and then (O delightful thought) I shall be the Lord’s for evermore.

He will guide me by His counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory. I have only to aim at His glory, walk by His word, and live at His throne, until He takes me to Himself.

My only business on earth is to please God, and my heaven will be to enjoy Him for ever.

Jesus, thy boundless love to me,

No thought can reach, no tongue declare;

Oh, knit my thankful heart to Thee,

And reign without a rival there!

James Smith

Ask And You Shall Receive

March 27

Ask and you shall receive.

John 16:24  Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name:

ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

There are the words of Jesus.

He addresses them to us this morning.

They suppose want, and inability to supply ourselves. They initiate that provision is made and may be obtained. They invite us to ask with confidence, assuring us we shall receive.

Jesus has a boundless fulness of blessings, and a loving tender heart to bestow them. He will supply all our needs. Let not want, then, lead you to despond, but look to Jesus; He has, He gives.

He tells you to ask and receive. Can any terms be more easy, more suitable, more encouraging than these?

But ask in faith, believing because Jesus has promised; ask with earnestness, as though you value the blessings; asked with importunity; go again and again, until you obtain them. Go to Jesus for all you want; make every thing a matter of prayer; in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God.

Doubt not, for His word is plan; He is full of compassion; He waits to be gracious; and He has thousands of witnesses to attest His faithfulness, veracity, and love. Look to the generations of old.

Did any ever seek the Lord in vain? NO: every one that asked receiveth.

My soul, ask what thou wilt,

Thou canst not be too bold;

Since his own blood for thee He spilt,

What else can He withhold?

James Smith

He Giveth Power To The Faint

MARCH 26

He giveth power to the faint.

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have

no might he increaseth strength. Isaiah 40:29 

The Lords people often feel faint, being burdened with a body of sin and death, pursued and assaulted by Satan, tried and hindered by the world; but though faint they continue to pursue.

Waiting on the Lord they renew their strength.

The Lord has said, “I will strengthen thee.”

Brother, remember the promises and faithfulness of thy God; yield not to fear, or you will surely faint.

Believe, because God is true.  David says, “I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

Power is given in answer to prayer.

Strength is proportioned to the day.

The back is fitted for the burden.

Our God will not lay upon as more then He will enable us to bear.

He strengthens by His word, by His Spirit, and by His presence; expect Him to be and do according to His word; this will honour Him, and He will strengthen you with might by His Spirit in the inner man.

Go forth, however weak you may feel, assured that God will give you strength and courage, strength to do and suffer His will, courage to face, fight and overcome every foe.

Whence do our mournful thoughts arise?

And where’s our courage fled?

Have restless sin, and raging hell,

Struck all our comforts dead?

Chase, chase thy gloomy fears away,

Strengthen shall be equal to the day.

James Smith

Bring Them Hither To Me

MARCH 25

Bring them hither to me.

Matthew 14:18 He said, Bring them hither to me.

Our compassionate Lord was surrounded by a starving, fainting multitude; His disciples had only five small coarse loaves, and two little fishes, and yet He had bidden them to feed the company.

The commands of Jesus are often intended to try our faith, and bring us as children to His feet.

He says, “Bring them to me.” Things are not what they appear, but what Jesus makes them, His blessing produces a wonderful change.

He bids you to bring every thing to Him.

You have a family?    He says, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not.”

Have you trials?       Take them to Him; His blessing sweetens and lessens trials.

Are you in poverty?             Carry your poverty to Him; He can increase your little, and bless it with a peculiar favour.

Whatever troubles you this day, or any day, think that you hear Jesus saying, Bring it hither to me.”

Carry all things to Him small things as well as great ones; it is only by so doing, that you can surmount trials; conquer foes; glory in tribulation; and joy in God.

The privilege I greatly prize,

Of casting all my cares on Him,

The mighty God, the only wise,

Who reigns in heaven and earth supreme.

How sweet to be allow’d to call

The God whom heaven adores my Friend;

To tell my thoughts, to tell Him all;

And then to know my prayers ascend.

James Smith

Thy Sins Are Forgiven

MARCH 24

Thy sins are forgiven.

Luke 7:48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

Whose sins? Thine, if thou believest in Jesus.

For to Him give all the prophets witness that through His name WHOSOEVER believeth in Him shall receive the remission of sins.

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

God pardons for Christ’s sake, every one who believeth, confesseth, and forsaketh sin.

He thus proves Himself ready to forgive, plenteous in mercy, and full of compassion to all who call upon Him.

He never refuses to pardon, nor manifests the least reluctance. Nor ought we to doubt for one moment upon the subject, seeing His word is so plain; His grace is so great; His mercy is so free; and His faithfulness so clearly proved.

What then do we want?

Only faith to believe God‘s word, that we, being believers in Jesus, having confessed sin at His throne, and prayed for pardon in Christ’s name, are forgiven all our trespasses.

And this is needful, for we can never modify sin, live above the world, rejoice in God, and honour the gospel, but as we believe these sweet words of Jesus, “THY SINS ARE FORGIVEN THEE.”

How high a privilege ‘tis to know

Our sins are all forgiven!

To bear about this pledge below,

This special grant of heaven!

O Lord, this privilege bestow,

To cheer ME while I dwell below.

James Smith

Where Is Your Faith?

MARCH 23

Where is your faith?

Luke 8:25  And he said unto them, Where is your faith?

And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another,

What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even

the winds and water, and they obey him.

The disciples were in a storm, surrounded by danger, and filled with fear, they applied to Jesus-- this was right;        they doubt His care, question His love, and cry,

“We perish.” This was wrong.

Jesus demands, “Where is your faith?”

May He not put the same question to us?

We have His word, but do we heartily believe it?

We speak of His love, but do we confidently trust it?

We read in His care, but do we see our safety in it?

We often seem to believe ant one sooner than Jesus; to trust any word more than His word; and therefore we are cast down, fearful and distressed.

Let us this day endeavour to fix our faith steadily upon His precious word; let us believe in His particular providence; let us commune with Him as our firm and faithful friend.

He says, “Let not your hearts be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in Me.”

He is worthy of credit, He cannot deceive; He deserves our confidence, He will not neglect; He encourages our hope, and promise, “If we ask any thing of the Father in My name, I will do it.”

Do you believe this?

Do you believe it when you pray?

Oh, how wavering is my mind,

Toss’d about with every wind;

Oh, how quickly doth my heart

From the living God depart;

O my God, thy grace impart,

To fix and bind my wandering heart.

James Smith

Precious Promises

MARCH 22

Precious promises.  II Peter 1:4  

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great

and precious promises: that by these ye might be

partakers of the divine nature, having escaped

the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The promises of Scriptures are the promises of the great God; that are all of free grace; they are confirmed by the blood of Jesus; and are exceeding great and very precious.

They are so plain that a child can understand them; and so great that no angel could fulfill them. There is such a variety that they meet every case; and such a fulness that they include every want.

They are breasts of consolation for the poor, tried, and distressed believer; and all the strength and support of every child of God.

They are our plea at the throne of grace, our confidence in the hour of trial, and are rejoicing in the prospect of death.

Beloved, God’s promises are to be your daily comfort; it is for you to search them out, store them up, believe them, trust in them, plead them, and be assured of their fulfilment, because, “He is faithful who promised.”

The promises are more precious than gold or silver; sweeter than honey or the honeycomb; more lasting than the earth; and more stable than the pillars of heaven.

Let us think of them, plead them, and expect their fulfilment to-day; our God is a faithful God, keeping covenant and mercy unto a thousand generations.

Praise to the goodness of the Lord,

Who rules His people by His word;

And there, as strong as His decrees,

He sets His kindest promises.

James Smith

I Will Give You Rest

MARCH 21

I will give you rest

Matthew 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour

and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

There is no rest for the Christian in the world.

There will be always something to disturb,     perplex,    or distress him;    it is an enemy’s land.

But Jesus says, “I will give you rest.”

He does so by enabling us to rely on His word,    recognize His hand,    submit to His will,    and trust in His perfect work.

He assures us that our sins are forgiven us;

 that our persons are safe in His keeping;

 that His presence shall always be with us;

 and that all things shall work together for the best.

We can rest on His faithfulness;

He has been tried, and found faithful.

We can rest on His love,    for it knows not the shadow of turn.

We can rest on His power; for He is engaged on our behalf.

We can rest on His covenant, it is ordered in all things and sure.

We can rest on His blood;   it speaks peace,   pardon,   and acceptance with God

We can rest at His feet; there we are safe, and can never be injured.

We cannot rest on our graces,   on our comforts, on our friends,  or on our possessions;   but we may rest on Jesus-- we shall rest on Him with unshakable confidence,    and ardent love; for His promises are plain,   His power in infinite,   and His love passeth knowledge.

In the ark, the weary dove

Found a welcome resting-place;

Thus my spirit longs to prove,

Rest in Christ, the Ark of grace.

James Smith

The LORD is Risen

MARCH 20

The Lord is risen.

Luke 24:34  Saying, The Lord is risen indeed,

and hath appeared to Simon.

Jesus once died for our sins,   and He rose for our justification.

He lay in the grave as our Substitute,    He rose as our Representative.    He died that we may live.     He lives,    and we shall live through Him and with him for ever.

He is risen, having conquered death,    reconciled us to God,    perfumed the grave,    and finished the work which the Father gave Him to do.

As He arose, so shall we.

As He is gone into heaven, thither should our thoughts, our hopes, and our affections ascend.

Jesus is risen,   to plead our cause;   manage our affairs;    fill His precious promises,    and to prepare for us mansions in our Father’s house.

Sin was atoned for by His death, heaven is secured by His life. He is our risen, ascended and reigning BROTHER.

He is our conquering and crown CAPTIAN.

Oh, let us think of, speak for, and devote ourselves to Jesus!

He is above the world;    let us live above the vanities,    amusements,    and trammels;

let us look beyond death to that glorious resurrection,    when we shall be raised from the dead, and possess bodies which shall be incorruptible,    glorious,    powerful,    and spiritual.

Jesus triumphs! sings His praises;

T’was by death He overcame;

Thus the Lord His glory raises;

Thus He fills His foes with shame.

Sing His praises!

Praises to the victor’s name.

James Smith

In His Favour Is Life

MARCH 19

In His favour is life.

For his anger endureth but a moment;

in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night,

but joy cometh in the morning.  Psalms 30:5

That is, in the favour of God in Christ.

If He have a favour towards us, all will be well; but He has, and as a proof of His favour He gave Jesus for us, and to us; He sent the Holy Spirit to quicken, teach, and sanctify us.

By believing we enter into the enjoyment of His favour; and enjoying His favour we learn to despise all that is opposed to it.

Our spiritual life flowed from His favour; our happiness stands in the enjoyment of His favour; and heaven will be the full displayed and realization of His favour.

To His favour we ascribe all our present comforts and future hopes.

By the favour of God we are what we are. By His favourite we are saved.

This is the source of every good, the joy of every true believer’s heart. Let us endeavour to ascertain beyond a doubt, that we are the favourites of God; let us prizes His favour above thousands of gold and silver; and let our daily prayer be, 

“Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto Thy people; O visit me with Thy salvation,  that I may see the good of Thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Thy nation, and glory with Thine inheritance. Amen, even so Lord Jesus.”

Fain would I my Lord pursue,

Be all my Saviour taught;

Do as Jesus bids me do,

And think as Jesus thought.

James Smith

But He Answered Her Not A Word

MARCH 18

But He answered her not a word.

But he answered her not a word. And his disciples

came and besought him, saying, Send her away;

for she crieth after us.   Matthew 15:23

Delays are not denials. Jesus delayed to answer, but He did not deny her request. He hath said, “Ask, and it shall be given you. Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it to you.”

Heaven and earth may pass away, but His word must stand for ever.

He delays the answer to try our faith, patience, and perseverance; but when He sends the blessing He proves His faithfulness, pity, and love.

Be not discouraged though your prayers remain unanswered for a time; it will not always be so.

This poor woman had to wait, though her case was very trying, and her request very urgent; but at last Jesus commended her faith publicly, and dismissed her with, “Be it unto thee even as thou wilt.”

Prayer will prevail, if it is the prayer of faith.

Pray on, then, and do not faint.

Say as Jacob on the plains of Peniel, “I will not let thee go except thou bless me.”

Plead with Him; be importunate; wait His time; be willing to receive in His own way; be concerned that He should be glorified in giving to you, or doing for you; and you cannot fail.

His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting, upon them that fear Him.

Wait for His seasonable aid,

And though it tarry, wait;

The promise may be long delay’d

But cannot come too late.

James Smith