"Salvation is of the LORD." -Jonah 2:9

God's purpose is one, because He is of one mind: as it is written,   "But He is in one mind, and who can turn Him? and what His soul desireth, even that He doeth" (Job 23:13, KJV).  There can no more be a new thought or a new purpose in God than there can be a new God. Whatever God thinks He ever thought, always does think, and will continue thinking. Therefore, whatever God purposes He always purposed, ever purposes, and will continue purposing.  Thinking and purposing are attributes of rational beings whether created or uncreated. The thoughts and purposes of the infinite God are co-eternal with Himself. God's thoughts and purposes are absolute. If this were not true, no being could possibly exist. The fulfillment of God's purpose manifests the beauty of all His perfections.  - W. E. Best , excerpt from 'God's Sovereignty is Absolute Arbitrariness'

" Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee ." -Isaiah 49:15 [KJV] Lord, remember David and all his afflictions, (Psalm 132:1.) How comprehensive is this short petition? What a holy boldness, what a filial confidence breathes in it! Yes, says a poor doubting dejected soul, but it came from an eminent saint, but I am a miserable sinner: I am afraid the Lord hath forgotten and forsaken me. Is your mind pained at the thoughts of this? That is a godly sorrow, which the wicked are strangers to. This is one of the afflictions of the righteous. Lord, remember me , is the prayer of faith, to a covenant God. Here is a precious cordial, a heart reviving answer from the Lord.  Look at that woman with her smiling babe at her breast. See how fond she is of it, how delighted with it. It is part of herself. She bore it with pains, and brought it into the world with labou...

"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." - Romans 8:26 [KJV] In all our prayers, in all our approaches to the Throne, our mercy and wisdom will be to seek to possess the mind of the Spirit; to desire to know the will of God, and do it; to look up more believingly and continually to the Lord Jesus, that He Himself would teach and guide us; that He would by His Spirit and grace conform us more inwardly and outwardly to His suffering image; that He would grant unto us to know Him more, and serve Him better; that our prayers may day by day be more and more fervent, earnest, and sincere, more spiritual, more in accordance with the will of God; that thus they may be more and more manifested as the interceding breath of the Spirit of God in our hearts, and as such may bring more clear and evident answers down. Pray fo...

"For thus saith the L ORD , Ye have sold yourselves for nought: and ye shall be redeemed without money ." -Isaiah 52:3 [KJV] Sweet thought, arising from this gracious promise of a most gracious covenant God in Christ! It is indeed for nought that every poor sinner hath sold himself, and mortgaged his inheritance; for sin produceth no wages but death, and Satan gives nothing but misery to his captives. The world holds out great promises indeed, but never fulfils them. Vanity and vexation of spirit are all that we receive in the close of the account. So that what Jehovah saith, every man finds to be true; we have sold ourselves for nought. But, blessed Lord! when at any time, for our sin and rebellion, Thou sufferest our enemies to lead us captive, what profit doth our Lord gain by it? May we not say, in the language of the church, "Thou sellest Thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by thy price?" Psalm 44:12 . If, Lord, it would be to...