Oh, The GLORY of His Presence

IN THE CENTER OF THE CIRCLE (full version)

In the center of the circle of the will of God I stand,
As I launch from sheltering harbor to obey His last command.
What though waves o'erwhelm my vessel, and grim fears my faith assail
Still I'll stay upon His promise, for that cannot, WILL NOT fail.

In the center of the circle of the will of God I stand,
Where the warfare wages fiercest, 'tis the place that He has planned.
Though dread foes may storm my castle, and the battle seem but lost,
I Will claim in Him the victory, and hold on whate'er the cost.

In the center of the circle of the will of God I stand
There can be no second causes, all must come from His own hand,
When dark clouds obscure my vision, and the way I may not see,
I will trust Him in the darkness, for I know He pilots me.

In the center of the circle of the will of God I stand,
Though the circumstances round me show small trace of His skilled hand,
Yet in darkness as in daylight, in the gloom as sunshine fair,
I will trust Him for His presence, for I know He's always there.
-Arthur Mathews

From the book 'Green Leaf In Drought' by Isobel Kuhn

ANDREW MURRAY'S FORMULA FOR TRIALS

1. Say, "He brought me here. It is by His will I am in this strait place and in that fact I will rest."

2. He will keep me here in His love and give me grace to behave as His child.

3. Then he will make the trial a  blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends for me to learn.

4. In His good time He can bring me out again - how and when He knows.

So let me say, I am (1) here by God's appointment; (2) in His keeping; (3) under His training; and (4) for His time.

-Andrew Murray 

Quoted in 'Green Leaf in Drought' by Isobel Kuhn

GOD'S WILL (taken from Streams In The Desert, FEBRUARY 14)

                                                                                                "Apostle Peter Kneeling" by Rembrandt, 1631    

Thou couldst have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above” John 19:11

Nothing that is not God’s will can come into the life of one who trusts and obeys God. This fact is enough to make our life one of ceaseless thanksgiving and joy. For “God’s will is the one hopeful, glad, and glorious thing in the world”; and it is working in the omnipotence for us all the time, with nothing to prevent it if we are surrendered and believing.

One who was passing through deep waters of affliction wrote to a friend: “Is it not a glorious thing to know that, no difference how unjust a thing may be, or how absolutely it may seem to be from Satan, by the time it reaches us it is God’s will for us, and will work for good to us? For all things work together for good to us who love God. And even of the betrayal, Christ said, “The cup which my Father gave me, shall I not drink it?” We live charmed lives if we are living in the center of God’s will. All the attacks that Satan, through others’ sin, can hurl against us are not only powerless to harm us, but are turned into blessings on the way.–H. W. S.

In the center of the circle
Of the Will of God I stand:
There can come no second causes,
All must come from His dear hand.
All is well! for ’tis my Father
Who my life hath planned.

Shall I pass through waves of sorrow?
Then I know it will be best;
Though I cannot tell the reason,
I can trust, and so am blest.
God is Love, and God is faithful,
So in perfect Peace I rest.

With the shade and with the sunshine,
With the joy and with the pain,
Lord, I trust Thee! both are needed,
Each Thy wayward child to train,
Earthly loss, did we but know it,
Often means our heavenly gain.–I. G. W.