“DEVOTIONAL PERIOD”

White Ribbon, Volume 20, Issue 9, 1 October 1948, Page 3

“DEVOTIONAL PERIOD”

HYMN 68 O it is hard to W'ork for God To rise and take His part ' Upon this battle-field of life And not sometimes lose heart. Workman of God, Oil, lose not heart, But learn what God is like; And in the darkest battle-field Thou shall know where to strike. For right is right, since God is God, And right the day must win; To doubt would be disloyalty To falter would be sin. Scripture Reading: 2nd Corinthians, Ol 12, Vk 7-10. In no work for God is the power of discouragement more felt than in that done for Temperance. The dreadful power of the drink habit, which can bring to naught so much desire for better things, and so much earnest prayer for the rescue of the poor victim, seems at times to take away all hope and belief in the value of effort to counteract it. Many years ago, in a great City Mission in the Home Country, after a great concert had been held on a Saturday evening as a means of keeping a few hundreds of people out of the public-houses with which the district was lavishly supplied, supper was being served to the artists who had provided the programme. Deaconesses and staff workers were in and out of the room, when a young eager girl came to the Deaconess in charge of the little function and w’hispered to her. The face of the Deaconess lit up strangely, and she rose from her chair, saying quietly, “Annie has signed the pledge f the 23rd time. Will you excuse rr.v ' “The 23rd time?” was the incredulous response. “But, how discouraging.’’ “Discouraging?” cried she. “Oh, it is most wonderfully encouraging. If she signing, then I should be discouraged.’ This Deaconess bore a name widely known and honoured in many lands. The holy light that shone in her face revealed her faith in the possibility of “Annie’s” final victory. Is not this the secret for us? The “frequent fab" of the poor drinker, however heartbreaking, should not daunt us, but >hould stimulate to more earnest effort. Let us thank God for all the wonderful ways in which He can take hold of the broken life, the enfeebled will and the deadened conscience, and restore strength and courage to the fallen. Prayer.