A Thought from Andrew Murray
Published 9:14 am Wednesday, April 1, 2020
“Every providence is God’s will; whatever happens, meet God in it in humble worship. Every precept is God’s will; meet God in it with loving obedience. Every promise is God’s will; meet God in it with full trust. A life in the will of God is rest and strength and blessing.” [. . .]
This thought from Andrew Murray (1828-1917), a prominent Christian speaker and pastor of many churches in South Africa and a very successful writer, is a most sobering thought for the times we are living in.
Today we are sharing a writing from Murray, which is approximately 120 years old. Murray was a minister to the missionaries. One day in 1895 while suffering from back pain as a result from being thrown from a cart in South Africa, he penned these words of encouragement in his journal:
First, He brought me here. It is by His will I am in this strait place: in that fact I will rest.
Next, He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace to behave as His child.
Then, He will make the trial a blessing,
Teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.
Last, In His good time He can bring me out again – how and when He knows.
Let me say I am here, (1) By God’s appointment. (2) In his keeping. (3) Under His training. (4) For His time.
Words spoken or written, today or centuries ago hold power. The story goes on to say that Andrew Murray had a visitor desiring a word. Bedridden, Murray tore out the freshly penned words from his journal and offered it as encouragement.
During this time unlike any we have seen in our lifetime, when COVID-19 ravages our land, people are losing their jobs, church services and schools are closed, remember the four-point message by Andrew Murray. I am here by God’s appointment; in His keeping; under His training; for His time and “It is well with my soul.”