Heart Talks

Part 1

Heart Talks

A Volume of Confidential Talks

on the Problems, Privileges, and

Duties of the Christian Life, Designed

to Comfort, Encourage,

Strengthen and Instruct

by C. W. Naylor

1922

Reprinted 1982 by

Faith Publishing House

Guthrie, Oklahoma

CONTENTS

Concerning The Author Preface Reprint Publisher’s Foreword (February, 1982) Talk One. What It Means To Trust The Lord Talk Two. The Blessing Of Dissatisfaction Talk Three. Why I Believe The Old Book Talk Four. He Maketh Me To Lie Down Talk Five. Blighted Blossoms Talk Six. Meeting The Lions Talk Seven. Egg-Shell Christians Talk Eight. Two Ways Of Seeing Talk Nine. The Living Bible Talk Ten. Heeding Intuitional Warnings Talk Eleven. Doing Something Worth While Talk Twelve. Home-Made Clouds Talk Thirteen. It Pleased The Lord To Bruise Him Talk Fourteen. Putting Clouds Over The Sun Talk Fifteen. What Is Your Word Worth? Talk Sixteen. How To Keep Out Of Trouble Talk Seventeen. What The Redbird Told Me Talk Eighteen. What Old Bill Could Not Do Talk Nineteen. Divine And Worldly Conformity Talk Twenty. Baptized With Fire Talk Twenty-One. What To Do With The Devil Talk Twenty-Two. Waiting On The Lord Talk Twenty-Three. Three Necessary “Rations” Talk Twenty-Four. A Retreat, Or A Rout? Talk Twenty-Five. My Dream Message Talk Twenty-Six. When God Withdraws Himself Talk Twenty-Seven. What Happened To Solomon Talk Twenty-Eight. Fighting The Good Fight Of Faith Talk Twenty-Nine. How Are Your Ear Connections? Talk Thirty. Fret Not Thyself Talk Thirty-One. Being Easily Entreated Talk Thirty-Two. Following “Whithersoever” Talk Thirty-Three. Paul’s Persuasion Talk Thirty-Four. In Christ And In Ephesus Talk Thirty-Five. The Practical Side Of Religion Talk Thirty-Six. Do You Need Patience? Talk Thirty-Seven. Stumbling-Stones, Or Stepping-Stones? Talk Thirty-Eight. Use What You Have Talk Thirty-Nine. Where The Joy Is Talk Forty. Blowing The Clouds Away Talk Forty-One. How To Fertilize Love Talk Forty-Two. How To Overcome Disappointment Talk Forty-Three. The Big End Of Trouble Talk Forty-Four. Self-Made Barriers Talk Forty-Five. How To Work God’s Joy-Machine Talk Forty-Six. Be Brave Talk Forty-Seven. “But Jesus Sent Him Away” (Luke 8: 38) Talk Forty-Eight. Getting The Kernel Talk Forty-Nine. Two Sunsets Talk Fifty. The Sculptor’s Work Talk Fifty-One. The Helplessness Of The Gospel Talk Fifty-Two. He Careth For You Talk Fifty-Three. Three Tests Of Love Talk Fifty-Four. Two Ways Of Rising Talk Fifty-Five. Getting Even Talk Fifty-Six. Do You Know Yourself? Talk Fifty-Seven. Balkers Talk Fifty-Eight. Sponges And Watering-Cans Talk Fifty-Nine. The Final Retrospect Footnotes

CONCERNING THE AUTHOR

C. W. Naylor

The author of Heart Talks has been peculiarly qualified for his task by a training of the soul in the school of suffering. After thirteen years in the ministry, as a result of an internal injury he has been compelled to spend the last thirteen years in his bed day and night, a constant sufferer. He has known the experience of long and intense suffering with no hope of relief from any human source, and with no other prospect for the future than that of remaining a helpless invalid for life and without a means of earning a livelihood. He has learned to trust God for the supply of his temporal needs because there was no other to trust. He has learned to commune with God by being deprived of the opportunity of mingling much with his fellow men.

Yet he has not lost the joy out of life. He still does what he can to build up the kingdom of God and bless his fellow men by his words of good cheer. He is still interested in the events of the world, and especially in the progress of God’s work. He has demonstrated the efficacy of God’s grace to sustain one and give joy in the very discouraging circumstances of life. Though a firm believer in divine healing, and instrumental in the healing of those who kneel at his bedside for prayer, yet he has not received permanent healing, because, as he believes, this is God’s method of developing his heart and making him more useful in helping others.

During the last five years, especially, he has contributed regularly to a religious periodical articles on subjects similar to those in this book, besides conducting a “Questions Answered” and information department, and writing a number of books.

—Gospel Trumpet Company Publishers 1922 A. D.

PREFACE

Most of the miscellaneous writings of which this volume is composed appeared originally in serial form. The widespread interest produced by them, the hundreds of letters of appreciation, and the numerous earnest requests for their publication in permanent form have been the moving cause for their presentation in this volume. They cover a very wide range of topics, are written in a popular style, and deal with phases of life and personal experience that are all too much neglected but which every Christian needs to understand. Each paper is complete in itself, though all have a general relation. They are pastoral in nature and have by the blessings of God comforted, encouraged, strengthened, and enlightened many souls. That they may by divine help continue to be a blessing to many is the earnest desire of the Author.

Anderson, Ind., May 14, 1920

REPRINT PUBLISHER’S FOREWORD (FEBRUARY, 1982)

This excellent volume, Heart Talks, by C. W. Naylor, has been out of print many years. The cloth-bound book, from which this reprint edition was produced, is the property of Sister Fern Stubblefield of Earlsboro, Okla. Originally owned by the late Nellie Poulos, the book was given in 1978 to Sister Stubblefield by T. Gus Poulos, the son of deceased Nellie Poulos.

This volume has been read by a number of saints and ministers who have recommended that it be reprinted with a very few footnote corrections and deletions. Therefore, we submit this book to the reading public with the prayer that the Lord will make its contents a blessing to many precious souls.

—Lawrence D. Pruitt Faith Publishing House Publishers

TALK ONE. WHAT IT MEANS TO TRUST THE LORD

Throughout the Bible we are exhorted again and again to trust in the Lord. We are warned against trusting in princes, in riches, or in ourselves; for all such trust is vain. Trusting in the Lord is represented as being safe, as blessed, and as producing very desirable results. In it is our hope, our strength, our safety, and our help.

Part 2

But what does trust mean? It does not mean carelessness or indifference. Just to let things go and say, “Oh, I guess it will come out all right,” is not trusting. Just drifting heedlessly with the tide is not trust. Neglect is not trust. Trust is something positive. It is a real something, not a mere happen-so or maybe-so. It is a definite attitude of soul and mind, a realization of our own need and of God’s sufficiency. It is the reaching out and anchoring of ourselves in God.

The soul who really trusts is not driven about by every wind. The waves beat against him as they beat against the anchored ship, but they can not dash him upon the rocks; for he who trusts in God is strong, because he has the strength of God.

Trust does not mean shutting our eyes to facts. There is no such thing as “blind faith.” Trust looks at things as they are. It sees the dangers that threaten, and assesses them at their true value. It sees the need, and does not try to disguise it. It sees the difficulties, and does not discount them. But seeing all this, it looks beyond and sees God, its all-sufficient help. It sees him greater than the needs or the dangers or the difficulties, and it does not shrink before them.

There is no fear in trust: the two are opposites. When we really fear, we are not fully trusting. When we trust, fear gives way to assurance. Fear is tormenting. How many there are who are constantly agitated by fear! They fear the devil, trials, temptations, the wind, lightning, burglars, and a thousand other things. Their days are haunted by fear of this thing or that. Their peace is marred and their hearts are troubled. For all this, trust is the cure. I do not mean to say that if you trust, nothing will ever startle you or frighten you, or that you will never feel physical fear in time of danger; but in such times trust will bring to us a consciousness that the Lord knows and cares, and that his helping presence is with us.

When John Wesley was crossing the Atlantic from England to America to become a missionary to the Indians, the ship on which he was sailing encountered a terrible storm. It seemed that those on board would be lost. Many were much alarmed and were in deep distress. Wesley himself was one of this number. In the midst of the storm his attention was attracted to some Moravians who sat calm and undisturbed by the dangers about them. Wesley greatly wondered at their untroubled appearance. He inquired why it was. Their reply was that they were trusting in the Lord and that they had in their souls the consciousness of his protecting presence and care. They felt no fear because there was nothing threatening that a Christian had need to fear. Mr. Wesley did not have such an experience, but what he learned from those simple-hearted people caused him to seek a similar experience.

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