‘I am bowed down and brought very low;
all day long I go about mourning’ (Psalm 38:6)

But what is the cause of your mourning? There is nothing apart from Jesus worth mourning for, or beside sin worth mourning over. Is it because of the unevenness of your walk with God? Or on account of the deep depravity of your nature? Perhaps because others do not keep God’s law? Or because Jesus hides His face, and your evidences fade and wither?

You may well mourn after Jesus, but you must not despond; for He will turn again, He will have compassion upon you. The depravity of the heart is enough to make an angel weep; but forget not the precious blood that cleanses, or the promised grace that sanctifies. Look not too much at the defects which appear in your walk, nor at the corruption which works in your heart; but deal with the blood and grace of Jesus as the means of your cure.

Read and believe His promises; confess and plead at His throne; wait and watch in His ways; be careful in case by excessive mourning you grieve His Spirit. He cannot be unkind, He never will forsake you. He was anointed “to comfort all that mourn”.

Why should the children of a king
Go mourning all their days? –
Great Comforter! Descend and bring
Some tokens of Thy grace.
Dost Thou not dwell in all the saints,
And seal the heirs of heaven?

THE DAILY REMEMBRANCER by James Smith (1802-1862)

Journal Jottings

‘Looking into my Bible as soon as I awoke, my eyes rested on the words, “Can two walk together, unless they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3). I immediately fell into this train of thought – Bless the Lord, through free and sovereign grace, the Lord Jesus and my soul are agreed. He is agreeable to save me by grace and to have all the glory; and I am heartily willing to be saved by Him and therefore desire to bless His holy name. He agreed to take on Himself all my sin, curse and condemnation, enduring the consequences of the same; and I am quite agreeable to take His righteousness, blessing and salvation, which He freely presents to me.’