DAILY STRENGTH FOR DAILY DUTY by Jennie M. Daly

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 8, 1901

DAILY STRENGTH FOR DAILY DUTY

By Jennie M. Daly

MRS. JENNIE M. DALY (Denver, Colo.)

I was out inviting the people to a Bible reading, anxious for them to hear the truth. I was a little downcast over the results of my work, and I thought, “Well, I’ll not go after them again, if they never come.”

Walking past a little cottage, the door of which was open, I heard a little child reading these words, “As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” The effect it had upon me was indescribable; it was like life from the dead, and a wonderful change came over me as I realized the greatness of that promise. The words came like a voice from heaven, reproving my lack of faith, and bidding me look up.

God is able to fulfill this promise to every one of us. Read Deut. 33:27. How the promise is emphasized by having back of it God’s almighty power! The promise is, “As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” The assurance is, “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” Certainly God has given no more blessed promise to the Christian; none that can give more hope, courage, and peace.

The Christian life is a life of trust. Think of the children of Israel, how God fed them in the wilderness, day by day, just what they needed; all they could use, no more, no less. So the promise to us is not, As thy weeks; or, As thy months; but, “As thy days, so shall thy strength be”—Sunday’s grace for Sunday; Monday’s grace for Monday; and so on. “As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” Why, then, should we ever fret and worry? We are commanded by our Saviour to take no anxious thought for to-morrow. The life of trust is to live day by day.

Not long ago a friend sent me the following beautiful stanza, which she said had been a great comfort to her, and she wished me to share in the blessing. It contains this very idea of living by the day.

“Make a little fence of trust Around to-day, Fill the space with loving works, And therein stay. Look not through the sheltering bars Upon to-morrow, God will help thee bear what comes, Of joy or sorrow.”