Broad Rivers Without Galleys

Broad Rivers Without Galleys, September 22
Author: Charles H. Spurgeon From the book: Faith's Checkbook

"But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby." - Isaiah 33:21

The Lord will be to us the greatest good without any of the drawbacks which seem necessarily to attend the best earthly things. If a city is favored with broad rivers, it is liable to be attacked by galleys with oars and other ships of war. But when the Lord represents the abundance of His bounty under this figure, He takes care expressly to shut out the fear which the metaphor might suggest. Blessed be His perfect love!

Lord, if Thou send me wealth like broad rivers, do not let the galley with oars come up in the shape of worldliness or pride. If Thou grant me abundant health and happy spirits, do not let "the gallant ship" of carnal ease come sailing up the flowing flood. If I have success in holy service, broad as the German Rhine, yet let me never find the galley of self-conceit and self-confidence floating on the waves of my usefulness. Should I be so supremely happy as to enjoy the light of Thy countenance year after year, yet let me never despise Thy feeble saints, nor allow the vain notion of my own perfection to sail up the broad rivers of my full assurance. Lord, give me that blessing which maketh rich and neither addeth sorrow nor aideth sin.

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Let me add my prayer to this. Lord, the blessings you pour over me are amazing and You are so gracious for doing so. Let me never look at these things in vain, let me see them for what they are, gifts. Nothing that I've deserved and nothing that I've warranted or done for myself. Let me be so humble to see your loving hand at work in my life and help me to not brush it aside, with a haughty attitude. Let me always know where I rank and that is nowhere in comparison to you. Let me always be aware that the things of this world that cause me happiness, will come with strings attached. Help me to realize that the things you bless me with, its because you wanted to do it, not because I did anything good to deserve it. I love you, Lord. Thank you for your PERFECT LOVE! Grace&Peace.