May 20, 2005

Have faith in God –
Behold His love unending;
Have faith in God –
Forever goodness sending;
Have faith in God –
His sheep in mercy tending.
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

Holy Ghost, With Light Divine

Andrew Reed, 1787-1862

    For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:3, 4.

    Andrew Reed wrote this hymn in 1817, and it was published in a Wesleyan hymnal of that year. Reed has included three metaphors for the Holy Spirit in this hymn: light, power, and joy.

Holy Spirit, light divine,
Shine upon this heart of mine,
Chase the shades of night away,
Turn my darkness into day.

Holy Spirit, power divine,
Cleanse this guilty heart of mine;
Long has sin, without control,
Held dominion o'er my soul.

Holy Ghost, with joy divine,
Cheer this saddened heart of mine,
Bid my many woes depart,
Heal my wounded, bleeding heart.

Holy Spirit, all divine,
Dwell within this heart of mine,
Cast down every idol throne,
Reign supreme, and reign alone.

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