And so for keeping up continual recollection of God this devotional formula is to be ever set before you.^[1] O God, make speed to save me. O Lord, make haste to help me. This verse has not unreasonably been picked out from the whole of Scripture for this purpose. It embraces all the feelings which can be implanted in human nature, and it can be fitly and satisfactorily adapted to every condition and all assaults. Since it contains an invocation of God against every danger, it contains humble and devout confession, it contains the watchfulness of anxiety and continual fear, it contains the thought of one’s own weakness, confidence in the answer, and the assurance of a present and ever ready help. For anyone who is constantly calling on his protector is certain that God is always at hand. It contains the glow of love and charity, it contains a view of the plots and a dread of enemies from which one, who sees himself day and night hemmed in by them, confesses that he cannot be set free without the aid of his defender. This verse is an impregnable wall for all who are laboring under the attacks of demons, as well as impenetrable coat of mail and a strong shield. It does not allow those who are in a state of moroseness and anxiety of mind or depressed by sadness or all kinds of thoughts to despair of saving remedies, as it shows that he, who is invoked, is ever looking on at our struggles and is not far from those who call on him. It warns us whose lot is spiritual success and delight of heart that we ought not to be at all elated or puffed up by our happy condition, which it assures us cannot last without God as our protector, while it implores him always and speedily to help us. This verse, I say, will be found helpful and useful to every one of us in whatever condition we may be. For one who always and in all matters wants to be helped, shows that he needs the assistance of God not only in sorrowful or hard matters but also equally in prosperous and happy ones, that he may be delivered from the one and also made to continue in the other, as he knows that in both of them human weakness is unable to endure without God’s assistance.

Overcoming well means overcoming all the machinations of the devil. He serves up enticements, he is overcome by self-restraint; he inflicts pains and tortures, he is overcome by patience; he suggests errors, he is overcome by wisdom. As a last resort, when all these ploys have been defeated, he suggests to the soul, Well done, well done, how much you’ve been able to do! How valiantly you’ve contended! Who can be compared with you? How well you have overcome! The holy soul must answer him, Let them be put to confusion and shame, those who say to me, Well done, well done! So when do you overcome, if not when you say, It is in the Lord that my soul shall be praised; let the gentle hear and rejoice?^[1]

Now is the time to act for the Lord, because our salvation is in a time of affliction. If those who love his salvation can know his steps^[1] and say constantly: God is great;^[2] and if they can say, My hope shall be in you always, will they believe only in time of joy and not believe in time of affliction?

It is written indeed, What came out of your mouth, do diligently,^[3] and again, If you have made a prayer to the Lord, do not delay to render [what you have promised], lest the Lord claim it from you and it be for you a sin.^[4] If you say, My hope shall be in you always,^[5] may you be found confident in time of affliction, in which is salvation.