[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":4},["ShallowReactive",2],{"reading-0222":3},"FEBRUARY 22\r\nIf thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth (Mark 9:23).\r\nSeldom have we heard a better definition of faith than was given\r\nonce in one of our meetings, by a dear old colored woman, as she answered the question of a young man how to take the Lord for\r\nneeded help.\r\nIn her characteristic way, pointing her finger toward him, she said with great emphasis: \"You've just got to believe that He's done it  and if s done.\" The great danger with most of us is that after we\r\n\r\nask Him to do it we do not believe that it is done, but we keep on\r\nhelping Him, and getting others to help Him; and waiting to see how He is going to do it\r\nFaith adds its \"Amen\" to God's \"Yea,\" and then takes its hands Off,  and leaves God to finish His work. Its language is, \"Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in him; and he worketh.\"\r\n--Days of Heaven upon Earth.\r\nI simply take Him at His word,\r\nI praise Him that my prayer is heard, And claim my answer from the Lord;\r\nI take, He undertakes.\r\nAn active faith can give thanks for a promise, though it be not as yet performed; knowing that God's bonds are as good as ready   money. --Matthew Henry.\r\nPassive faith accepts the word as true- But never moves.\r\nActive faith begins the work to do, And thereby proves.\r\nPassive faith says, \"I believe it! Every word of God is true.\r\nWell I know He hath not spoken what He cannot, will not, do. He hath bidden me, 'Go forward!' but a closed-up way I see,  When the waters are divided, soon in Canaan's land I'll be.\r\nLo! I hear His voice commanding, 'Rise and walk: take up thy bed'; And, 'Stretch forth thy withered member!' which for so long has\r\nbeen dead.\r\nWhen I am a little stronger, then, I know I'll surely stand:\r\nWhen there comes a thrill of healing, I will use with ease my other hand.\r\nYes, I know that 'God is able' and full willing all to do:\r\nI believe that every promise, sometime, will to me come true.\"\r\nActive faith says, \"I believe it! and the promise now I take,\r\nKnowing well, as I receive it, God, each promise, real will make. So I step into the waters, finding there an open way;\r\nOnward press, the land possessing; nothing can my progress stay. Yea, I rise at His commanding, walk straightway, and joyfully:\r\nThis, my hand so sadly shrivelled, as I reach, restored shall be. What beyond His faithful promise, would I wish or do I need?\r\nLooking not for 'signs or wonders,' I'll no contradiction heed.\r\nWell I know that 'God is able,' and full willing all to do: I\r\nbelieve that every promise, at this moment can come true.\"\r\nPassive faith but praises in the light, When sun doth shine.\r\nActive faith will praise in darkest night-- Which faith is thine?\r\n--Selected.",1783499792049]