Mystery of Providence - Flavel - X - Chapter 9 completed

Required reading 
Mystery of Providence by John Flavel (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 9 completed (Section: 'Lastly, work up your hearts to those frames...' to the end of the chapter).

My notes and thoughts
Three final tips on how to meditate on the providence of God.
(i) Involve your affections/emotions.
Although Flavel admits we are to mourn when afflicted ('we cannot be light and vain when our Father is angry') we still 'maintain spiritual joy and comfort in God under all'.  Remembering that 'All your losses are but as the loss of a farthing to a prince' and that affliction is often used by God to mortify sin: 'O how many bitter potions are necessary to purge out this tough malignant disease'.

(ii) Don't grow weary waiting for providence.
Flavel gives six reasons why we should be patient for God's providence, all are excellent.  I loved this illustration: 'The foolish child would pluck the apple while it is green; but when it is ripe, it drops of its own accord and is more pleasant and wholesome.'

(iii) Don't pry too curiously into the secrets of providence.
We are encouraged not to rely on our own understandings as some things in God's providence are beyond our understanding: 'I know there is nothing in the Word or in the works of God that is repugnant to sound reason, but there are some things in both which are opposite to carnal reason, as well as above right reason.'  I always try to remind myself that God's word is not hard to understand, it is my heart that is hard of understanding.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.