Faith's Checkbook (By: C.H. Spurgen)

                                     He Lowers to Raise

        The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up.
                                                                                  ~ 1 Samuel 2:7

  "All my changes come from Him who never changes. If I had grown rich, I should have seen His hand in it, and I should have praised Him; let me equally see His hand if I am made poor, and let me as heartily praise Him. In any case, the Lord has done it, and it is well.

  It seems that Jehovah's way is to lower those whom He means to raise, and to strip those whom He intends to clothe. If I am now enduring the bringing low, I may well rejoice because I see in it the preface to the lifting up. The more we are humbled by grace, the more we shall be exalted in glory.
  Lord, You have taken me down of late and made me feel my insignificance and sin. It is not a pleasant experience, but I pray You make it a profitable one to me. Amen."(Charles H. Spurgeon ~ One Minute Devotions)