Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 25:10, where we read these words:
"All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies."
Are we faithful by grace to our church covenant (baptismal) vows in Christ? If so, then God is also faithful to us--and He will lead us in all His paths of "mercy and truth." Our faithfulness is not a result of our own goodness; in-stead, it is the fruit of God's gift of genuine and real faith in Jesus.
If we are in Christ (and therefore in covenant with God), let us take comfort from the fact that our Heavenly Father will only direct us into what is ultimate-ly good for us, and what is truly best for us. Let us persevere to the end. We will not regret doing so.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The best men are severe to themselves, [but] ten-der over others." --Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]