A reading of Anglican priest Robert Hawker’s (1753–1827) morning devotional writings from “The Poor Man’s Morning and Evening Portion.”
The music for this reading is “Pied-billed Grebe” by Chad Crouch and was adapted for length under a Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
Faint, yet pursuing.—Judges 8:4
Surely what is said here, concerning the little army of Gideon, suits my case exactly. I know that in Jesus the victory is certain: but I know, also, that I shall have battlings all the way. From the moment that the Lord called me out of darkness into his marvelous light, my whole life hath been but a state of warfare; and I feel what Paul felt, and groan as he groaned, under a body of sin and death; as sorrowful, yet rejoicing; as dying, but behold I live; as chastened, and not killed. Truly I am faint, under the many heavy assaults I have sustained: and yet, through grace, pursuing as if I had met with no difficulty. Yes, blessed Jesus! I know that there can be no truce in this war; and, looking unto thee, I pray to be found faithful unto death, that no man may take my crown! But, dearest Lord! thou seest my day of small things; thou beholdest how faint I am. Thou seest, also, how the enemy assaults me; and how the world and the flesh combat against me. While without are fightings, within will be fears. Yet, dearest, blessed Lord! in the Lord I have strength; and how sweet is the thought, that though I have nothing, though I am nothing, yet thou hast said, “In me is thy help.” Thou hast said, “The righteous shall hold on his way; and he that hath clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger.” The worm Jacob thou hast promised shall thresh the mountains. Write these blessed things, my soul, upon the living tablets of thine heart, or rather, beg of God the Holy Ghost, the remembrancer of thy Jesus, to stamp them there for thee. He giveth power to the faint; and to them which have no might, he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary; and the young men shall utterly fall. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings, as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
