in serving, giving, sacrificing. If we are persecuted for Christ's sake,
there is great joy. Life's problems are met with faith. A colored woman
who had to wash for a living was very happy all the time. Rich women
would marvel at her peace of mind, and one time one of them chided her
for her optimism, which to the rich woman seemed based on nothing. "Why,
suppose you should get sick, or suppose something should happen," said
her rich friend. "Oh, I never supposes," said the poor woman. "That is
what is the matter with you, you supposes and supposes and imagines all
lands of ill coming on you. The Lord is my shepherd, and I shall not
want. So I never supposes, I know everything will come out all right."
She just flapped her wings, so to speak, and flew over her troubles.
The victorious life is free from worry, fretting, overanxious solicitude,
burdensome care. It is free from malice, ill will, retaliation. It is
free from bad temper, sees the bright side of things, and wears its
clouds inside out. The sanctified life is a life of faith, and it is a
life of obedience. To trust has to it become a habit, to obey a second
nature. The victorious life looks not behind, but ahead; it ignores past
failures and goes forward in faith.
And this victorious life is for all. Instead of being for favored folk,
it is for the weak, the burdened, the poor, the sick, the troubled, the
persecuted. Enter in by consecration and faith. Yield all just now. Lay
all on God's altar. Be His alone. Then by faith enter into this life
which will be yours every day as you live by faith and trust and obey.