[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":4},["ShallowReactive",2],{"reading-0910":3},"SEPTEMBER 10\r\nThe Lord will Perfect that which concerneth me (Psalm 138:8).\r\nThere is a Divine mystery in suffering, a strange and supernatural    power in it which has never been fathomed by the human reason.    There never has been known great saintliness of soul which did not pass through great suffering. When the suffering soul reaches a\r\ncalm sweet carelessness, when it can inwardly smile at its own   suffering, and does not even ask God to deliver it from suffering,\r\nthen it has wrought its blessed ministry; then patience has its perfect work; then the crucifixion begins to weave itself into a crown.\r\nIt is in this state of the perfection of suffering that the Holy\r\nSpirit works many marvelous things in our souls. In such a\r\ncondition, our whole being lies perfectly still under the hand of God; every faculty of the mind and will and heart are at last\r\nsubdued; a quietness of eternity settles down into the whole being; the tongue grows still, and has but few words to say; it stops\r\nasking God questions; it stops crying, \"Why hast thou forsaken me?\"\r\nThe imagination stops building air castles, or running off on\r\nfoolish lines; the reason is tame and gentle; the choices are\r\nannihilated; it has no choice in anything but the purpose of God.   The affections are weaned from all creatures and all things; it is    so dead that nothing can hurt it nothing can offend it, nothing can hinder it nothing can get in its way; for let the circumstances be\r\nwhat they may, it seeks only for God and His will, and it feels\r\nassured that God in making everything in the universe, good or bad, past or present work together for its good.\r\nOh, the blessedness of being absolutely conquered! of losing our\r\nown strength, and wisdom, and plans, and desires, and being where\r\nevery atom of our nature is like placid Galilee under the omnipotent feet of our Jesus--Soul Food.\r\nThe great thing is to suffer without being discouraged. --Fenelon.\r\nThe heart that serves, and loves, and clings, Hears everywhere the rush of angel wings.",1783499793842]