Streams in the Desert August 6 Daily Devotional

Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south, blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out! (Song of Sol. 4:16).
Look at the meaning of this prayer a moment its root is found in
the fact that as delicious odors may lie latent in a spice tree, so
graces may lie unexercised and undeveloped in a Christian's heart There is many a plant of profession; but from the ground there
breathes forth no fragrance of holy affections or of godly deeds.
The same winds blow on the thistle bush and on the spice tree, but it is only one of them which gives out rich odors.
Sometimes God sends severe blasts of trial upon His children to
develop their graces. Just as torches burn most brightly when swung to and fro; just as the juniper plant smells sweetest when flung
into the flames; so the richest qualities of a Christian often come
out under the north wind of suffering and adversity. Bruised hearts often emit the fragrance that God loveth to smell.
I had a tiny box, a precious box
Of human love-my spikenard of great price; I kept it close within my heart of hearts

And scarce would lift the lid lest it should waste. Its perfume on the air. One day a strange
Deep sorrow came with crushing weight, and fell
Upon my costly treasure, sweet and rare And broke the box to atoms. All my heart Rose in dismay and sorrow at this waste, But as I mourned, behold a miracle
Of grace Divine. My human love was changed
To Heaven's own, and poured in healing streams On other broken hearts, while soft and clear
A voice above me whispered, "Child of Mine, With comfort wherewith thou art comforted, From this time forth, go comfort others,
And thou shalt know blest fellowship with Me,
Whose broken heart of love hath healed the world.