經文: 「我們的心必靠祂歡喜。」

基督徒能在黑夜唱新歌，在逆境仍昂首，這實在是上帝的恩典。狂風暴雨，濁浪淘天，波濤雖會漫過我身，但信靠上帝的人，卻能順勢推波，超越困難，從中看到上帝的榮臉。當然，在苦難挫折中，信徒的心並不好過，但因著上帝同在的喜樂，這試煉就不致太難熬。
信徒雖然在病痛折磨中，但耶穌在旁看顧他；雖然約旦河冰冷的河水漫過他的頸部，但耶穌拉著他的手臂說：「別怕，親愛的！死並不可怕，你馬上就要到我那兒，我寶座流出的甜美的瓊漿玉液，而非淒冷冰寒的苦汁。」當年老體弱、氣血衰敗的信徒，正要渡過人生苦海，離世而去，他也會聽到相同的聲音：「你不要害怕，因為我與你同在。不要驚惶，因為我是你的上帝。」（賽四十一：10）當他接近不可知的未來，那永恆的天家，耶穌對他說：「你們這小群，不要懼怕，因為你的父，樂意把國賜給你們。」（路十二：32）因著耶穌的安慰與鼓舞，信徒不再做怕死的奴僕。他們寧願離世與耶穌同住，因為他們視耶穌為燦爛晨星，在他們心中發光到永遠。真的，耶穌的同在，就是我們所嚮往的天堂美境。

Morning, July 2
Scripture: “Our heart shall rejoice in Him.”(Psalm 33:21)

Blessed is the fact that Christians can rejoice even in the deepest distress; although trouble may surround them, they still sing; and, like many birds, they sing best in their cages. The waves may roll over them, but their souls soon rise to the surface and see the light of God's countenance; they have a buoyancy about them which keeps their head always above the water, and helps them to sing amid the tempest, “God is with me still.” To whom shall the glory be given? Oh! to Jesus—it is all by Jesus. Trouble does not necessarily bring consolation with it to the believer, but the presence of the Son of God in the fiery furnace with him fills his heart with joy. He is sick and suffering, but Jesus visits him and makes his bed for him. He is dying, and the cold chilly waters of Jordan are gathering about him up to the neck, but Jesus puts His arms around him, and cries, “Fear not, beloved; to die is to be blessed; the waters of death have their fountain-head in heaven; they are not bitter, they are sweet as nectar, for they flow from the throne of God.” As the departing saint wades through the stream, and the billows gather around him, and heart and flesh fail him, the same voice sounds in his ears, “Fear not; I am with thee; be not dismayed; I am thy God.” As he nears the borders of the infinite unknown, and is almost affrighted to enter the realm of shades, Jesus says, “Fear not, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Thus strengthened and consoled, the believer is not afraid to die; nay, he is even willing to depart, for since he has seen Jesus as the morning star, he longs to gaze upon Him as the sun in his strength. Truly, the presence of Jesus is all the heaven we desire. He is at once

“The glory of our brightest days;
The comfort of our nights.”