Day by Day with Martin Luther

Read: Deut. 18:1-20:20 Luke 9:28-50 Proverbs 12:10

“The Anxious Heart”

“Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.
My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O Lord – how long?”
[Psalm 6:2-3]

We see many godly hearts that are always sad and dejected, being anxious and troubled at their own thoughts, and despairing in their temptations from the devil. “Where”, says the world and our flesh, “is the Holy Spirit about whom you Christians boast?” A Christian should be wise here, so that he does not pass sentence and judge according to his own thoughts and feelings, but know that against just this temptation and weakness, that he must cling to the Word and the comforting sermon which the Holy Spirit preaches to the poor distressed heart and conscience. From this we can learn that God does not want to have us sad and frightened, but cheerful and confident of the sure, truthful promise of His grace, which the Holy Spirit Himself preaches to His people. Be cheerful dear Christian, Christ is on your side.