An aged widow, who was dependent on charity for her bread, could specially appropriate that portion of the Lord’s prayer to herself, “Give us this day our daily bread.” One day a company of boys heard her praying for her daily supply and thought they would have a little fun at the expense of the good old woman’s faith. So they ran off to the baker’s, bought a few loaves, and threw them into her cabin. The old saint saw the bread tumbling about her and broke out in an exclamation of praise to God.

The boys came in and said, “Well, old woman, what are you praising the Lord for?” “Oh! I am praising Him for the bread He sent me in answer to my prayer.”

“What a poor, superstitious old woman you are! The Lord did not send you the bread. We bought it from the baker and threw it in ourselves. The Lord had nothing to do with it.”

“Ah, my dear boys, you don’t understand. The Lord sent me the bread in answer to my prayer, no matter if the devil brought it.”

Just so of every good gift we receive; so also with all the temptations of Satan and all the various opposing forces of men. Not one of them can touch me, or you, or any believer without passing the domain of God’s absolute special providence; and the fact that He allows them a passage to me is an expression of His will concerning me. Something for the development of my mind, to increase my knowledge of men or devils; to try and thus improve the effectiveness of my faith; to exercise and thus improve essential Christian graces, meekness, patience, humility, forbearance, brotherly kindness, sympathy with those of like trials, and hope. All these things work together for good to them that love God. We must be sure to establish and maintain our right moral relation to God; and thus, we have nothing to fear.