David Brainerd

Yesterday my sister Joanna and her family (missionaries in Brazil) were traveling on a riverboat that caught fire. They lost all their belongings (including their documents) but they are all safe and we are so thankful for God’s protection. More info here: gofundme.com/f/support-ezra…

My soul longs to feel itself more of a pilgrim and stranger here below; that nothing may divert me from pressing through the lonely desert, till I arrive at my Father's house.

Surely God is worthy of my highest affection, and most devout adoration; he is infinitely worthy, that I should make him my last end, and live for ever to him. Oh that I might never more, in any one instance, live to myself!

O that God would make me more lively and vigorous in grace, for his own glory!

As long as I see any thing to be done for God, life is worth having; but O how vain and unworthy it is to live for any lower end!

Prayer was so sweet an exercise to me, that I knew not how to cease, lest I should lose the spirit of prayer.

Oh that we could depend more upon the living God, and less upon our own wisdom and strength!

I find that both mind and body are quickly tired with intenseness and fervour in the things of God. O that I could be as incessant as angels in devotion and spiritual fervour!

My soul felt a pleasing, yet painful concern, lest I should spend some moments without God. O may I always live to God!

In the evening, the hand of faith seemed to be strengthened in God; my soul seemed to rest and acquiesce in him; was supported under my burdens, reading the 125th Psalm; and found that it was sweet and comfortable to lean on God.

Farewell, friends and earthly comforts, the dearest of them all, the very dearest, if the Lord calls for it; adieu, adieu; I will spend my life, to my latest moments, in caves and dens of the earth, if the kingdom of Christ may thereby be advanced.

I met with a reproof from a friend, which, although I thought I did not deserve it from him, yet was, I trust, blessed of God to make me more tenderly afraid of sin, more jealous over myself, and more concerned to keep both heart and life pure and unblameable.

Oh, my soul, what death it is, to have the affections unable to centre in God, by reason of darkness, and consequently roving after that satisfaction elsewhere, that is only to be found here!

Oh, to be made like God, or rather to be made fit for God to own!

Alas! my soul mourned to think I should ever lose sight of its beloved again. ‘O come, Lord Jesus, Amen.’

Blessed Jesus, may I daily be more and more conformed to Thee.

Lord, I’m a stranger here alone; Earth no true comforts can afford; Yet, absent from my dearest one, My soul delights to cry, My Lord.

God feeds me with crumbs: blessed be his name for any thing.

O that I could for ever live to God! The day, I trust, is at hand, the perfect day. Oh, the day of deliverance from all sin.

I felt now quite willing to live, and undergo all trials that might remain for me in a world of sorrow: but still longed for heaven, that I might glorify God in a perfect manner.