“I will fear no evil; For You are with me” (Psalms 23:4)

When God supernaturally changed your heart, He filled you with the Holy Spirit. “You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you” (Romans 8:9). A bright light shines within you, so you can remain joyful and calm when sinners are afraid. Even the fear of death has no hold on you. Christ died to “destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15). 

 The changes of old age can’t stop the music in the Christian's heart, but rather makes the music sweeter, more clear, more heavenly. The music doesn’t stop even in the last days before death. All that happens is the earthly melody melts into the heavenly chorus, and the temporary joy into the eternal state of bliss! Let’s have confidence, then, in the Holy Spirit's power to comfort us. 

 Dear reader, do you fear poverty? If your income is reduced, you can more easily experience “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17), because you’re no longer consumed with “the deceitfulness of riches” (Matthew 13:22). Are you conscious of a growing failure of your bodily powers? Do you expect to suffer long nights and days of pain? Don’t be sad. Your bed may become a throne to you. It’s possible that every pang that shoots through your body may be a refining fire to consume your dross - a beam of glory to light up the secret parts of your soul. Are your eyes growing dim? Jesus will be your light. Do your ears fail you? Jesus' name will be your soul's best music, and His Person your dear delight. The philosopher Socrates used to say, "Philosophers can be happy without music;" and Christians can be happier than philosophers when all outward causes of rejoicing are withdrawn. 

 “In You, my God, my heart shall triumph, come what may of ills without! By Your power, Oh blessed Spirit, my heart shall be exceeding glad, though all things should fail me here below”.