“Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up….” (2Pe. 1:13).
As a Christian you ought always to encourage, and stir up yourself to the love and service of God. Thomas White said:
“Come O my soul, let us be steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as we know that our labor is not in vain in the Lord; let us not be weary of well doing, nor of the labor of love, for we shall reap if we faint not? We have known, and in some measure endeavored to serve God thus many years, were it not a sad thing for the want of continuing one year, one month, it may be but one week, or one day more, I should lose all my hopes and expectations of glory. God forbid; O my soul, let us encourage ourselves in the Lord, we are not kept by our own, but by the mighty power of God through faith to salvation, and be you assured of this, that the first minute you are in heaven, you shall have such full measure, pressed down, heaped up, and running over, that you shall break forth in the songs of joy and praise to all eternity, magnifying, admiring and adoring God, that ever he gave you leave, and grace to serve him, then shall you see, and so your experience shall make you confess with joy and wonder, that the light afflictions and labors of love that you endured in this life, are not worthy to be compared to the joys that shall be revealed in you; when at any time you begin to be weary, look to the price of your high calling, and when you come to heaven, you shall admire, when you see how abundantly you are over recompensed, and you will have just cause to say, Lord, what is this that you have done for me, alas, what were the things that I either did, or suffered in your service, what were my filthy rags that you should give me such a robe and crown of glory; O my soul, what if we do weep, now the time is at hand when God will wipe all tears from our eyes. Thomas White, Instructions for the Art of Divine Meditation.
How do you stir yourself up to adore God in a more meaningful manner? This is something you ought to consider every time you have your personal devotions.
“Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!” (Psa. 146:1).
Contemplation:
I know that you, O Lord, have certain days or appointed seasons of exercising both mercy and judgment towards me. All these are laid out by You for Your glory. I look for your sovereign seasons of remarkable mercy, in which you will manifest yourself in the exercises of Your grace and loving-kindness, more than at other times. You call these times, accepted times, and days of salvation, and also days of God’s visitation. Will you visit me? Will you stir up my soul and cause me to cast my cares on you?
Indeed, Lord, it is a day of grace so long as I live in this world, in the enjoyment of the means of grace you have for me. It is especially seen in a distinguishing manner, in my devotions and worship of You. There is a door of mercy always standing open for me, and You, O Lord, open it in an extraordinary manner. Will I heed it? Or is my soul downcast? Help me be directed to your loving kindness and mercy.
You direct me to “seek the Lord while he may be found, and to call upon him while he is near,” (Isaiah 55:6). Help me by all the means of grace to improve such an opportunity as this to improve my devotions, live life to its fullest, and to get heaven. You have opened the fountain in our midst in an extraordinary manner. Help me to see that this present day is the time to obtain a supply of the necessities of Your merciful grace.
