December 1, 2005

Have faith in God –
And the kingdom to be;
Have faith in God –
For the glory we’ll see;
Have faith in God –
‘Tis for you and for me.
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

How Tedious and Tasteless the Hours

John Newton, 1725-1807

    Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. Psalm 73:25.

    How Tedious and Tasteless the Hours is another of the fine hymns by John Newton. It first appeared in his 1779 collection titled The Olney Hymns. The hymn was originally titled "Fellowship with Christ", based on Psalm 73:25. These words still speak vividly to us of the importance of maintaining a close personal relationship with our Lord.

How tedious and tasteless the hours
When Jesus I no longer see;
Sweet prospects, sweet birds and sweet flowers,
Have all lost their sweetness to me;
The midsummer sun shines but dim,
The fields strive in vain to look gay.
But when I am happy in Him,
December’s as pleasant as May.

His Name yields the richest perfume,
And sweeter than music His voice;
His presence disperses my gloom,
And makes all within me rejoice.
I should, were He always thus nigh,
Have nothing to wish or to fear;
No mortal as happy as I,
My summer would last all the year.

Content with beholding His face,
My all to His pleasure resigned,
No changes of season or place
Would make any change in my mind:
While blessed with a sense of His love,
A palace a toy would appear;
All prisons would palaces prove,
If Jesus would dwell with me there.

Dear Lord, if indeed I am Thine,
If Thou art my sun and my song,
Say, why do I languish and pine?
And why are my winters so long?
O drive these dark clouds from the sky,
Thy soul cheering presence restore;
Or take me to Thee up on high,
Where winter and clouds are no more.

Have Faith in God by H.M.S. Richards, Used by Permission