Live Near to God
Mary Winslow (1774–1854) was the mother of the Puritan, Octavius Winslow. After being widowed at a young age, Mary learned to rely on the Lord and trust Him during seasons of sorrow. Later in life, she wrote many letters of spiritual encouragement and counsel that are saturated in warm love to Christ and longing for heaven. After her death, Octavius Winslow put these letters into a book called Heaven Opened.
do we go to Him first, with all our cares little and great, or do we go in the poor arm of the flesh?
I think we dishonor God when we go to the creature and make [God] of secondary consideration. If we only applied to God [first] and left Him to make whatever He pleased of the creature, waiting patiently for His answer, we should much sooner have our prayer answered, and in the very best possible way. Now, do we go to Him first, with all our cares little and great, or do we go in the poor arm of the flesh? In this thing we are verily guilty, therefore the Lord leaves us to suffer for our want of faith and full confidence in Himself. He is a jealous God—jealous of His honor and glory.
We are so prone to forget that the Lord is in everything that concerns us. Our concerns are His concerns.
Oh to be wiser in all our transactions with God, for it is with Him we have to do moment by moment, and He has to do with us. “My son, give me thy heart”—the whole heart—the heart right with God. Dear friend, I believe, thus living, we should enjoy more of heaven upon earth than we do. We are so prone to forget that the Lord is in everything that concerns us. Our concerns are His concerns. We are one, never to be disunited—one in time and one in eternity. The 8th chapter of Romans begins with no condemnation, and ends with no separation…Oh we do wretchedly live below our high and mighty privileges. May He be pleased to put more life in our souls, and raise us above a dying world and dying creatures!
How necessary it is to keep close to the fountain, to apply to it day by day, that our garments may be kept white.
…How necessary it is to keep close to the fountain, to apply to it day by day, that our garments may be kept white. How important that our lamps be supplied with fresh oil, and brightly burning, for in an hour when we think not our summons may come, and Christ say to us, “Come up higher.” There is nothing like a close walk with God, a habitual going to, and living upon, Him…Oh, let us make and sustain a close acquaintance with Christ here, that we may not feel we are going to a stranger when we depart, but to be with one with whom we have had close communion and heavenly intercourse here below.