Hold Fast

Hold fast that which thou hast, and let no man take thy crown.
Let no man hinder thee in pursuit of the reward.
Let nothing stand in the way of thy complete victory.
Let no weariness or discouraging thought cause thee to
unloose the rope of faith,
but bind it tighter and anchor fast to My Word.

For My Word can never fail,
yea, and all My good promises I will surely fulfill.
Have not I said, 'He that seeketh shall find'? And have not
I promised to be the rewarder of them that diligently seek Me?
Not of the dilatory seeker, but of the diligent seeker.
Not of him whose seeking is in reality only wishing, but of
him who has grown so intent in his quest that he has become
wholly absorbed to the extent that he is unmindful in his toiling
of the sweat upon his brow.
To the extent that he has ceased reckoning the cost,
indeed, verily, has quit offering bribes,
as though the fulness of God might be purchased,
and has set out on foot,
deserting all else to follow the call of the Spirit until...

Until hunger is swallowed up in fulness.
Until heart-cry is answered by the voice of God through His
mighty Holy Spirit.
Until all the emptiness and lonliness of the subterranian
recesses of his soul
are flooded by the sublime, glorious reality of Emmanuel.
Emmanuel! God with us -- God in us -- God in me! -- God in you!
Praise His holy, wonderful Name! For this He made us.
For this He destined us! For this He predestined us!
For this He died and rose.
For this He sent that first mighty outpouring at Pentecost.
Praise God! Praise God!
Never stifle the cry in your heart. God put it there.
God puts no special premium on our being perrenial spiritual
Pollyannas.
His joy springs forth most abundantly
in souls that have been soaked in tears.
Not tears of self-pity. Never.
But in tears of devotion and longing after Him.
Weep. But when you weep, weep in His arms.
Doubt if you must, but tell each doubt to Him candidly.
You will be surprised how quickly they will melt away.
His love and His smile will dispel every doubt
as silently and surely as sunshine removes frost.
You cannot look in His face and doubt at the same time!

From "Come Away My Beloved" by Frances J. Roberts