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L. F. STARR

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Aug 1, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 31.

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L. F. STARR

By L. F. Starr

The Journey of a Day—No. 2

L. F. STARR

EVERY day should be begun in communion with God. "In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up," said the man after God's own heart.
He begins the day unwisely who leaves his chamber without a secret conference with his heavenly Friend. The true Christian goes to his closet and family altar for both his panoply and his spiritual rations for the day's journey and its inevitable conflicts.
As the Oriental traveler prepares for the sultry journey by loading his camel under the palm-tree's shade, and by filling his flagons from the cool fountain that sparkles at its roots, so does God's wayfarer draw his fresh supplies from the inexhaustible fountain. Morning is the golden time for devotion. The mercies of the night provoke thankfulness. The buoyant heart that is in love with God, makes its earliest flight, as the lark, toward the gates of heaven.
Gratitude, faith, dependent trust, all prompt early interviews with God, who never slumbers, but waits on his throne for our morning orisons.
We all remember Bunyan's beautiful description of his pilgrim lodging overnight in the "chamber of peace," which looked toward the sunrising, and at daybreak he "awoke and sang." A devout heart should never be mute when God causes the outgoings of the morning to rejoice.
"Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first work. Let your prayer be 'Take me, O Lord, as wholly thine. I lay all my plans at thy feet. Use me to-day in thy service.'" —"Steps to Christ," page 87. No pressure of business or household duties should crowd out prayer. Every Christian should make it his duty to secure a quiet moment in his chamber on his knees and with the Bible, before taking up his duties for the day. Then when he goes to his business, his face will shine, as did that of Moses when he came down from the mount. Closet devotions are the fit precursor to household worship. Family religion underlies the church and is the corner-stone to a happy home. No wholesome church life can exist without being rooted beneath the hearthstone and the family altar.
No prelude to the day is so fitting, so impressive, and so potent in its influence, as the union of household hearts around the throne of grace. Family worship is a seam well stitched around the border of the day, to keep it from raveling out into indolence, carelessness, and irreligion. Wise is that Christian parent who hems every morning with the Word of God and with fervent prayer.
When the early devotions are over, then we should cheerfully shoulder the burdens of the day.
The happiness and the serenity of the whole day depend very much upon a cheerful start. We know not what a day may bring forth, or when we shall leave our threshold for the last time, or hear the last "Good morning." Let us, therefore, set out on the day's journey under the protection of God's loving care. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. Eliezer described his happy and successful day's journey by saying at the close: "I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master's brethren."
When you and I are in the path of duty, and have sought the divine direction, we may be sure that the Lord will lead us in the right path. In order, however, to make "good speed," many professed Christians go overburdened with cares. Fret and worry fill our lives with shadows of disappointment and doubt. Temptations and worries should be resisted, and the devil will be defeated in his attempts at our ruin. Garland, Wyo.