{"id":2670,"date":"2013-11-23T04:43:55","date_gmt":"2013-11-23T04:43:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=2670"},"modified":"2013-11-23T04:43:55","modified_gmt":"2013-11-23T04:43:55","slug":"my-ruling-desire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=2670","title":{"rendered":"My ruling desire!"},"content":{"rendered":"

My ruling desire!<\/strong><\/p>\n

(James Smith, \u201cChrist Exalted, Saints Comforted, and Sinners Directed\u201d 1855)<\/p>\n

My ruling desire<\/strong> is to be wholly given up to the Lord and to His work, and to show forth His praises from day to day. But when I aim at this most \u2014 I am baffled, opposed, and always hindered!
\nI see what is wrong<\/em> \u2014 but cannot avoid it.
\nI see what is right<\/em> \u2014 but cannot attain unto it.
\nI know what I wish<\/em> \u2014 but I cannot enjoy it.
\nI read what God commands \u2014 but I cannot perform it.<\/p>\n

In the midst of all, I bless God . . .
\nfor Jesus Christ,
\nfor free grace,
\nfor a full salvation,
\nfor abiding comfort,
\nfor a good hope,
\nfor sweet views of Jesus,
\nfor a glorious inheritance,
\nfor an assurance of victory, and
\nfor the promise of eternal triumph.<\/p>\n

Nothing can . . .
\nseparate me from Jesus,
\nturn the current of His love from me, or
\nchange the purposes of His grace for me.<\/p>\n

His love <\/em>is astonishing!<\/p>\n

His ways <\/em>are marvelous!<\/p>\n

I change \u2014 He remains the same.
\nI sin \u2014 He pardons.
\nI cry \u2014 He hears and answers.
\nI ask for favors \u2014 and He kindly bestows them.
\nI fear \u2014 and He promises.
\nI wander \u2014 and He says, \u201cReturn.\u201d
\nI lament my folly \u2014 He whispers peace<\/em>.
\nI feel poor and impoverished \u2014 He says, \u201cAll things are yours!\u201d
\nI imagine that I am alone \u2014 He says, \u201cI will never leave you nor forsake you.\u201d
\nI expect that He will abandon me \u2014 He asks, \u201cHow can I give you up?\u201d<\/p>\n

I cry, \u201cUnworthy, unworthy!\u201d <\/em>He says, \u201cYou are My dear son, My pleasant child.\u201d<\/p>\n

I fear I shall be overcome. He says, \u201cNo weapon formed against you shall prosper.\u201d<\/p>\n

I fear I shall lie down in darkness. He says, \u201cThe Lord shall be a light unto you.\u201d<\/p>\n

I say, \u201cI can do nothing!\u201d He says, \u201cI will work all your works in you.\u201d<\/p>\n

I say, \u201cI am barren!\u201d He says, \u201cFrom Me is your fruit found.\u201d<\/p>\n

I cry, \u201cI am thirsty!\u201d He says, \u201cI will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys, to give drink to My people, My chosen ones.\u201d<\/p>\n

I complain, \u201cI am weary!\u201d He says, \u201cCome unto Me, I will give you rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

I feel dry and parched. He says, \u201cI will be as the dew <\/em>unto Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n

I say, \u201cI need food!\u201d He says, \u201cMy flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.\u201d<\/p>\n

I fear I shall die. He says, \u201cHe who eats Me, even he shall live <\/em>by Me.\u201d<\/p>\n

I say at times, \u201cAll these things are against <\/em>me!\u201d He says \u201cAll things shall work together for <\/em>your good!\u201d<\/p>\n

I say, \u201cI shall surely be overcome!\u201d He says, \u201cNothing shall by any means hurt you.\u201d<\/p>\n

I say, \u201cI am often left alone!\u201d He says, \u201cLo, I am with you always.\u201d<\/p>\n

I say, \u201cI am all deformity!\u201d He says, \u201cYou are all beautiful, My love, there is no spot <\/em>in you!\u201d<\/p>\n

I say, \u201cI shall see Him no more!\u201d He says, \u201cI will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice.\u201d<\/p>\n

I say, \u201cSurely the Lord cannot love such a wretch!\u201d He says, \u201cI have loved you with an everlasting love.\u201d<\/p>\n

I say, He cannot have chosen one so vile and base. He says, \u201cI have chosen you, and will never cast you away!\u201d<\/p>\n

I say, \u201cI am desolate and forsaken!\u201d He says, \u201cYour Maker is your husband, the Lord Almighty is His name, and your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n

I say, \u201cI shall be left to myself at last!\u201d He says, \u201cI am a friend who sticks closer than a brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

I say, \u201cSet me as a seal upon Your arm, as a seal upon Your heart!\u201d He says, \u201cI will make you like a signet ring on My finger \u2014 for I have chosen<\/em> you.\u201d<\/p>\n

I cry, \u201cRemember me, O Lord my God, for good!\u201d He says, \u201cYou shall be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.\u201d<\/p>\n

I cry, \u201cDo not be terribly angry with me, O Lord!\u201d He says, \u201cI swear that I will never again be angry and punish you.\u201d<\/p>\n

I say, \u201cI beseech you, show me Your glory!\u201d He says, \u201cBehold, I come quickly!\u201d<\/p>\n

I cry, \u201cRemember me with the favor which You bear unto Your people!\u201d He says, \u201cAs one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you \u2014 and you shall be comforted.\u201d<\/p>\n

I cry, \u201cTell me where You graze Your flock.\u201d And He says, \u201cFollow the footsteps of My flock.\u201d<\/p>\n

I cry, \u201cO that it was with me as in days that are past!\u201d He says, \u201cArise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with Me.\u201d<\/p>\n

I cry, \u201cMy soul is among lions!\u201d He says, \u201cCome down with Me \u2014 from where the lions have their dens and leopards live among the hills.\u201d<\/p>\n

I say, \u201cO that I was sure that Jesus loved me!\u201d He says, \u201cYou have ravished my heart, My sister, My spouse!\u201d<\/p>\n

I say, \u201cI moaned like a mourning dove!\u201d He says, \u201cYour lips, O My spouse, drop as the honeycomb, honey and milk are under your tongue.\u201d<\/p>\n

I say, \u201cI am exposed, and lie open to the attacks of enemies on every side!\u201d He says, \u201cYou are My private garden, My treasure, My bride \u2014 a secluded spring, a hidden fountain.\u201d<\/p>\n

I say, \u201cDo not look upon me, because I am black!\u201d He says, \u201cYou are all beautiful, O My love!\u201d<\/p>\n

I say, \u201cHow miserable I am! Not a cluster of grapes or a single early fig can be found to satisfy my hunger.\u201d He says, \u201cAt our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for you, O My beloved.\u201d<\/p>\n

I say, \u201cI fear that my numerous sins and powerful corruptions will cool the love of Jesus for me!\u201d He says, \u201cMany waters cannot quench My love, neither can the floods drown it.\u201d<\/p>\n

I sigh, \u201cI am feeble and sorely broken!\u201d He says, \u201cI will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax.\u201d<\/p>\n

I say, at times, \u201cHe afflicts, and counts me for His enemy!\u201d He says, \u201cAs many as I love \u2014 I rebuke and chasten! I deal with you as My son<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

I say, \u201cI am totally unfit to be the bride of Jesus!\u201d He says, \u201cOh, how beautiful you are! How pleasing, My love, how full of delights!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My ruling desire! (James Smith, \u201cChrist Exalted, Saints Comforted, and Sinners Directed\u201d 1855) My ruling desire is to be wholly given up to the Lord and to His work, and to show forth His praises from day to day. But when I aim at this most \u2014 I am baffled, opposed, and always hindered! I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[93,61,15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2670","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-author-james-smith","category-believers-assurance","category-total-depravity"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2670","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2670"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2670\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2671,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2670\/revisions\/2671"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2670"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}