By Mary Wilder Tileston

      In Thine hand is power and might; and in Thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

      CHRONICLES 29:12

      WHEN I have nothing in my hand

      Wherewith to serve my King,

      When Thy commandment finds me weak

      And wanting everything,

      My soul, upon Thy greatness cast,

      Shall rise divinely free;

      Then will I serve with what Thou hast,

      And gird myself with Thee.

      ANNA L. WARING

      HOW are we to approach such blessed strength? First of all, through a steadfast will to refuse nothing that God requires of us, and to do nothing deliberately which can displease Him. Next, we must learn to take our faults humbly, as proofs of our weakness, and use them to increase our trust in God, and our mistrust of self. Neither must we be discouraged at our own wretchedness, or give way to the thought that we cannot do or bear any special thing; our duty is, while confessing that of ourselves it is impossible, to remember that God is all-powerful, and that through Him we can do whatever He may require of us. We must learn to say with St. Augustine, "Give me what Thou commandest, and command what Thou wilt."

      JEAN NICOLAS GROU