Dearest Sister Downcast
Rev. Star Purswell
Dearest Sister Downcast,
What a disaster your last letter brought! Please don’t give up. I know the Master has the answer for you. There is hope in the merciful Master, if you will listen to His words. Your adversary, Old Scuzball, has almost succeeded in tearing your faith to shreds, but not quite. He desperately wants to finish you off, but the Master says he can’t have you. He says neither height, nor depth, nor breadth, nor principalities nor evil powers can remove you from His Love. You have diligently sought Him.
He loves you and has the answer for your dilemma. He says for you to bless Him at all times, and sing His praises continuously.
I know you told me in your last letter that you could not - would not - ever be able to give thanks for all of the heartbreak and failure that has befallen you. And, of course, there's the great physical afflictions in your body to boot. But the Master says to tell you that you can certainly thank Him in all and everything that discourages you. They’re only obstacles put in your path by the old enemy.
Old Scuzball is not the author and the finisher of your faith. He is the liar who tries to steal, kill, and destroy. But the Master has already defeated Him on your behalf. The Master asks only that you praise and thank Him in all things, because He is turning them out for the good.
Your ways and thoughts are so beneath His, that right now you can’t see anything past your own nose. He has asked you to trust Him no matter what, and leave the battle to Him. If you worship Him and read His word, you won’t be so fainthearted trusting in yourself. When you think you’re in control, that's a disaster. The Master tells you to offer Him the sacrifice of praise with your lips; offering up praise and thanksgiving to Him.
About your next question: Of course you can’t spend the entire day -or even hours- on your knees to pray without ceasing. You must talk to the Master, praise and worship Him, with every task of the day, until speaking or singing to Him is like taking a fresh breath of air. When you have learned this Divine secret you will discover the Lord will be so close to you soon, that you will attain freedom of mind, body, and spirit. This is a continuous thing and can’t be learned in a short time, but only by practicing His presence. You will see that your dismal existence will become joyful, and His life-giving peace will flow out of it; for the Master Himself will be your source.
Don't beat yourself for falling prey to Old Scuzball. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and run back to the presence of the Lord of Glory, Jesus Christ.
Practice each day entering into His presence with the thanksgiving of your mouth, even when you don’t feel like it. Ask the Lord to put the High praises of God in you're mouth. When your praises are mingled with the high praises of those already in Heaven worshipping Him night and day, then you will find yourself soaring above your own earthly problems. Remember how a horse with blinders is? He sees in only one direction. He only sees the destination before him. When you begin to take your eyes off yourself, and project them to the Master, then you will see He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that you ask or even think.
Don’t be preoccupied with Old Scuzball, trying to figure out how to scream and yell at him to go away because ,you see, this will be another victory for him and another defeat for you. The Master is able to stomp on Old Scuzball's head if only you first submit yourself to Him. The more you give Old Scuzball, and all of his imps, your attention, the more your eyes are withdrawn from the Master.
I pray I have helped you to see that the Master has a plan for you. He's in control, not you, so just start learning to stay in His presence, and He will answer and tell you of things to come which you have no idea about. He will become a shelter and hiding place from your storm.
Don’t be ashamed to ask the older saints for their counsel, for they are full of the Master’s wisdom. Remember, only the Master has the answers for you regarding your life, so go to His Letters in His Book and see what He says concerning His will for you.Sister Downcast, no sorrow is so great, no pit is so deep, no failure is so grave that praise to the Master can't pull you out of it. He created you for His good pleasure, and He wishes to receive your love for Him just because He is. You don't need to beg, plead, or snivel, for if you seek Him and His righteousness, He will provide every need.
So continue your journey of faith with increased knowledge of how you can transform failures into power. Old Scuzball isn’t threatened by you as long as you don’t read the Master’s word, and come into a special, personal relationship with Him.
I am praying and rejoicing in your growth in the ways of the Master. He’s told you to learn of Him line upon line, precept upon precept, a little here, a little there. In this way you will be able to enter into His rest.
I am anxious to hear from you again soon. Always remember, when you praise and worship Him you shatter the darkness, pushing Old Scuzball back, rendering him helpless. Sister Downcast, I have no doubt that you will be victorious! Praise Him and lift Him up.
In His Service,
Sister Jubilant
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