Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

strength."Lesson Helps for the Week of August 29, 1954C.Y.P.U. TOPICfor August 29, 1954"THE VICTORIOUS DEVOTIONALLIFE"Elizabeth Henderson, NewburghPsalms :25:1-3 page 583:2-5 page 5108:1-5 page 270Congregation63:1, 2, 5, 6, page 15346:1, 5 page 119References: Isaiah 30:15; 40:31; Ps. 46:10; 139:17, 18; I Jo. 5:4, 5; Matt. 14:23; 26:36-39.We are all creatures of habit whetherit be good habits or bad. One goodhabit from which we can all derive unlimited benefit is daily devotional Biblereading. In my own personal experienceI have found that a few minutes ofprayer and of reading the Bible beforeleaving my room in the morning startsthe day right. Many times the morningreading has proved helpful not only insolving my own problems but in speaking a word for Christ to someone whospecially needed it.A few weeks ago our Prayer Meetingtopic stressed the need of asking fordaily strength from God and this morning devotion gives us just that. We allknow how inadequate our own strengthis in the stress and strain of our lifetoday.One of our references, Is. 30:15, tellsus that "In quietness and confidence shallbe our strength."This quietness can befound in many ways. The story is toldof a gardener who while making hisrounds found a stranger resting by thepool. It proved to be a doctor who hadjust performed a difficult operation andwould soon perform another. He wasvery weary and tense but in the quietness of the garden his tension hadbeen relieved and he stated that "inquietness and confidence"turn to duty.he would reOur Saviour crowded a great dealof work, travel, teaching and healinginto three short years and how manytimes we find Him seeking to renew Hisspirit by retiring to a lonely mountainside or a solitaryfor prayer and meditation.spot on the seashoreSpiritualstrength comes to us in quiet moments.In our complex society much relianceis placed on things of the world. Inmany situations man struggles to calmhis nerves and develop his spiritual capacities.J. C. Penney tells of meeting with asmall group of business men every Friday morning to spend thirty90minutes insilent prayer and meditation. Each evening he read, prayed and sought to increase his devotion to Christ. Fromthese practices he has gained new lifefrom within. We can all profit by hisexperience. If we rise in the morningwith Christ uppermost in our minds andretire in that same attitude at nightsurely we will experience victorious devotional life.God first spoke to Moses in his lonelysolitary life as a shepherd. Jacob hadhis first personal experience with Godin the stillness of the night at Bethel.God spoke to Elijah in the still smallvoice. Paul learned his lessons of Christian faith in the desert of Arabia afterhis conversion. Jesus continued all nightin prayer in a mountain before makingHis important decision. We must waitdefinitely and quietly for the voice ofGod.Another of our references tells us that"they that wait upon the Lord shall renew theirGod gives us powerto carry heavy burdens and difficulties.Those who try to carry them in theirown strength fail. We sometimes marvel at the great load of responsibilitythat some can carry but then we discover that they wait upon the Lord.New strength comes from taking a fewminutes to turn one's thoughts to God."To them that have no might He increaseth strength."Isaiah 40:31 applies to us today, to thechurch as well as to the individual. Weneed to gather in the upper room andwait for power from the Lord. It takesmore strength to "walk along the dustyweary"highway and not grow than toeagles.""mount up with wings as Thereal Christian is able to "walk and notfaint"church.in the everyday work oftheOur resources cannot be measured.We have an overflowing storehousewith wide open windows and a fountainwhose streams gush from an unfailingdeep. We can undertake in confidenceall things for Him if we live only todo His will."Be still and know that I am God."This is the third of our references. Perhaps some of us have found ourselvesin a strange place and become panickyas to how we would get our bearingsor find ourselves. This may happen inany life. We feel weak and alone in theworld filled with terrible things. Thenwe need to pause and sense the presenceof our Father and know that He isnear to shield and protect us fromevery danger.We think of the folks at a trafficsignal who are so impatient that theystart the horn blowing the second thelight flashes "Go" and before the person in front has a chance to get going.Often we are in such a hurry that allwe do is make a lot of useless noise.We neither move forward ourselves norhelponlyanyone else to do so. Such noiseadds to the confusion of ourselvesand the irritataion of others. Momentsof calm reflection and worship in thepresence of God each morning givethe poise, power and peace needed forthe day ahead. If we remember thatGod is never in a hurry, it helps us toovercome the tendency to be impatient.Traffic sgnals read"Go.""Stop," "Caution,"Christ's rule of the road is, Stopfor prayer, seek guidance, and go withfaith. What better rule could we find fora "victorious devotional life!"Suggestions:Give your own experiences in benefitsderived from the "Quiet Hour."What examples can you give of otherBible characters who were made stronger by moments of prayer and meditation?Can you persuade other Young Peoplethat it is beneficial?JUNIOR TOPICAugust 29, 1954ABRAHAM RESCUES LOTMrs. M. K. CarsonScripture: Genesis 14MemoryPsalms:Verse: Genesis 14:20a105: 1,2,3,6,7 page 257, our Psalm-ofthe-Month.Sing it from memory if possible.91:1-4, page 224107:10, 11, page 265References: Find the answer to thesequestions.1. How many kings are mentioned inGenesis 14:1?2. How many kings are mentioned inGenesis 14:2?3. How many of the cities mentionedin Genesis 14:2 did God destroy in Hisanger? Deuteronomy 29:23.4. In which of these cities was Lotliving? Genesis 14:12.5. What king is mentioned five timesin Genesis 14?6. How many trained servants didAbraham have? Genesis 14:14.7. How many of Abraham's neighborshelped him? Genesis 14:24.Another story of Abraham today andTHE COVENANTER WITNESS