Chapter. 18. To be restless till we get ourselves into a good frame.
Fifthly, make the most of this work of God in your hearts by seizing every opportunity. Let time be precious to you now, and do not let any moment go to waste.
Sixthly, strive to develop the skill to use God's graces in every way as God calls for their use. God's graces have diverse purposes.
Sometimes they are for life and comfort, and other times for defense.
Sometimes they are for drawing in, and other times for pouring out, as described in Isaiah 2:4, "They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks." In this case, they will have peace and their instruments will have a different purpose.
But in Joel 3:10, it is the opposite, "They shall beat their plowshares into swords, and their pruning hooks into spears." Apply this to grace; sometimes grace is meant to bring life and nourishment to the soul, and at other times it is meant to bring in more grace. For example, faith is sometimes meant to receive and derive nourishment from Christ, and at other times faith is meant to be a shield. Many Christians focus on the work of grace to bring life and strength to themselves but lack the skill to use grace as a shield. The same goes for hope, which can be a prop for the soul or a helmet. We should strive to understand the different uses of graces according to the various purposes God calls for. Sometimes one way, sometimes another. And this concludes the third use.
Chapter 18.
A fourth Use. To be restless until we attain a good frame.
Use 4.
A fourth use is this: If it is true that God's people experience different states of mind, sometimes being afraid and downhearted, while at other times they possess courage and readiness for any service God requires of them, then it should teach us that when our hearts are down and not in the desired state, we should be restless until we restore ourselves to a good frame. Sometimes the godly have their hearts in a good frame, and therefore it is possible to attain it, and we should not rest until we have achieved it.
Question: But how can we uplift our hearts when they are not in a suitable frame for service?
Answer: Firstly, we need to be aware of the evil of having an unserviceable heart, to the extent that we humble ourselves before God for lacking it. We should be more conscious of this evil than the absence of peace and comfort. Many people, when they find their hearts down and not adequately prepared for service, feel troubled by it. However, this is because their hearts are down, leading to doubts about their condition and hindering their peace and comfort.
They are not troubled as much by their unserviceableness and the lack of hearts fitted for duty, which is the reason why their hearts remain down. Therefore, our concern should be to be more aware of the unserviceableness of our hearts than the lack of peace.
Secondly, we should observe where the strength of our spirit is directed and strive to redirect our hearts from that. For example, if the strength of a person's spirit is not directed towards God, it is directed towards something else. It is always working in one way or another. If it is not directed towards a specific object, it is scattered and divided among various objects. So, if our strength is not directed
towards God, we should examine our hearts and ask: Where is the strength of my heart going? Which way is it flowing? If it can be discerned that the strength of our heart is directed towards a creature or a lust, our focus should be on redirecting it away from those things.
Thirdly, when you come to participate in God's ordinances, come with hearts longing for strength. Before engaging in the Word, prayer, or sacraments, prepare yourselves by thinking, "I come before the Lord to have my dull heart quickened in this particular area. I acknowledge that my heart is unserviceable in this aspect.
Now, as my heart presents itself before God, it earnestly desires to be equipped for service in this specific area." Much can be accomplished when we come into God's presence, yearning for His help in these specific matters.
Fourthly, pay attention to the initial signs of God's work in your hearts, acknowledge them, improve upon them, and follow them.
Many times, God begins to work in the heart, but because He does not fully manifest Himself at first, people disregard these initial stirrings and fail to embrace and cultivate them. There have been numerous sparks that have fallen upon your hearts, and if you had gathered them together, they could have become a flame by now.
However, because God did not come in with a blazing fire all at once, you paid no attention. You thought, "What can a spark do for my heart?" If you had nurtured and developed even the smallest spark, you might have had more by now.
Fifthly, make an effort to recall all the soul-quickening truths that you have ever experienced working in your hearts. Remember the times when God's truth entered your heart and had a powerful