ME COUNSEL SHALL STAND .

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

FEBRUARY 20

 

Isaiah 46:10

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient

times the things that are not yet done, saying, Me counsel

shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

 
The counsel of man is often weak and unwise, his knowledge being imperfect, and his mind disordered.
 
But the counsel of the Lord is the effect of infinite wisdom, and is sustained by omnipotent power. Men’s purposes are often formed under evil influences, or when the mind is confused and perplexed; but the purposes of God were formed in the calm and quiet of the eternal mind, under the influence of justice, grace, holiness, truth, and love. Men’s counsels are often frustrated, but God’s counsel purposes can never be.
 
Men’s purposes are frequently defeated, but our God worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. His counsel includes all that is essential to our eternal welfare; his purposes embrace all the events of this transitory life: therefore we ought to be much affected by anything which takes place around us.
 
There may be confusion, conflict, injustice, oppression, cruelty, but our God who has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, says, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” Remember, beloved, our God is at work always and everywhere.
 
He doth according to his will in heaven, earth, and hell; and he says to us, “Be still and know that I am God.”
 

God will for all my wants provide,

And save me for his mercy’s sake:

Me by his counsel he will guide,

And afterwards to glory take.

 
James Smith