My meditation of him shall be sweet. I will he glad in the Lord. Ps. 104:34.

The world has need of as, providing we are strong and glad in the Lord. The key to this inner gladness is "in the Lord." Such a spirit is not through self-confidence. Nor is it through the strength and splendor of any actions we have done, nor through the deliberate iron will that marks the so-called man of power. We do not seek the homage of men by brazen courage and self-assertion.

Because our life is in the Lord, we can afford to be sweet and glad and modest. If we boast of our self-confidence, of the strength of our personality, we know only too well in whom we trust. But we have no command over the forces of evil. If we build upon ourselves we have only a tower of Babel for our end.

Are you not glad that you do not have to go it alone? Are you not glad that you have power from God, the fruit of the Spirit, and the very sweetness of our Lord? Are you not glad to cast your fortunes with One who is the very essence of sweetness and love? It is no false gladness that prompts its to exclaim, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

What gladness is ours—His nearness, His glory, His power, His love! All these are known to us and are realized through faith. Christ prayed that "the love wherewith thou hast loved me, may be in them, and I in them" (John 17:26). What a glorious reason for rejoicing and being glad all the days of our lives.

This truth is not a difficult one to understand. We say to our loved ones, "You are in my heart." We know what that means. We have the same relationship with Christ. Because we have Christ in our hearts, gloom and depression have to go out. His presence is inconsistent with all that would make us unhappy and sour.

When Christ comes into our hearts He does not come alone. He brings with Him all those qualities of the abundant life, enabling us to live radiantly. He enters and abides as an irresistible joy. No sooner does Christ enter than gladness begins.