Open At The Top

"When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me."

Psalm 86:7 

Last week these words made me smile:

“Once when Charles Garret was preaching to a large congregation about the mysterious troubles that often come to the Christian, he was saying that: we are not exempt from trouble; whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and some converted men had more trouble after their conversion than before. He had known Christians who were steeped in trouble—surrounded by it; trouble to the right, trouble to the left, trouble in front, trouble behind. Then an old man in the gallery, who had served God for seventy years, shouted, ‘Glory be to God, it’s always open at the top.’”  Mrs. Charles E. Cowman, Streams in the Desert 2, August 30

That's the way it is. Our connection with God is always open as long as we are in fellowship with Him. We don't have to worry about Him shutting us out, turning us off, hanging up on us. He's always available.

Every way we turn may be filled with trouble, heartbreak or sickness. All we need to do is look up and call on our Father, and He is there. 

Don't lose your connection. Keep in constant contact with God so you can be assured He will always be right there with you. 

Elisha Hoffman wrote, I Must Tell Jesus, and shared the story that prompted him to write this hymn:

"There was a woman to whom God had permitted many visitations of sorrow and affliction. Coming to her home one day, I found her much discouraged. She unburdened her heart, concluding with the question, 'Brother Hoffman, what shall I do?' I quoted from the Word, then added, 'You cannot do better than to take all of your sorrows to Jesus. You must tell Jesus.'

"For a moment she seemed lost in meditation. Then her eyes lighted as she exclaimed, 'Yes, I must tell Jesus.' As I left her home I had a vision of that joy-illuminated face . . . and I heard all along my pathway the echo, 'I must tell Jesus. I must tell Jesus.'"

Verse Two

"I must tell Jesus all of my troubles;

He is a kind, compassionate Friend;

If I but ask Him, He will deliver,

And in my griefs with me He will blend."

Chorus

"I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!

I cannot bear my burdens alone;

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!

Jesus can help me, Jesus alone."

Remember the old man's words: "Glory be to God, it’s always open at the top."

By His Grace . . .