Beginnings
GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomy
Judges
JoshuaJudgesRuth
Kingdoms
1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings
Chronicles
1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEsther
Poetry
JobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of Solomon
Prophets
IsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDaniel
Minor Prophets
HoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicah
NahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachi
Messiah
MatthewMarkLukeJohnActs
Paul's Letters
Romans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians
1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrews
General Letters
James1 Peter2 Peter1 John
2 John3 JohnJude
Revelation
Revelation
Kept for this visit
Notes, starred verses and bookmarks kept while signed out last until this visit ends. Create a free account and everything you keep here moves into it, saved for good.
Create an account Sign in

Morning and Evening

August 11, Morning

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"Oh that I were as in months past." — Job 29:2 · KJV

Many Christians can look on the past with pleasure but regard the present with dissatisfaction. They look back on the days they spent in communion with the Lord as the sweetest and best they have ever known, while the present is clad in gloom and dreariness. Once they lived near to Jesus; now they feel they have wandered from Him, and they say, "O that I were as in months past!" They complain that they have lost their assurance, or have no present peace of mind, or find no enjoyment in the means of grace, or that their conscience is less tender, or their zeal for God's glory cooled. The causes of this mournful state are many. It may come from a comparative neglect of prayer, for a neglected prayer closet is the beginning of all spiritual decline. It may be the result of idolatry — the heart occupied with something else more than with God, the affections set on the things of earth instead of heaven. A jealous God will not be content with a divided heart; He must be loved first and best, and He will withdraw the sunshine of His presence from a cold, wandering heart. Or the cause may lie in self-confidence and self-righteousness, when pride is busy in the heart and self is exalted instead of lying low at the foot of the cross. Christian, if you are not now as you were in months past, do not rest satisfied with merely wishing former happiness back; go at once to your Master and tell Him your sad state. Ask His grace and strength to help you walk more closely with Him; humble yourself before Him, and He will lift you up and give you again to enjoy the light of His countenance. Do not sit down to sigh and lament; while the beloved Physician lives, there is hope — no, a certainty — of recovery, even for the worst cases.