tempt some people have for police officials. And where would we begin to comment on the immorality and sexual debauchery which plagues our land? Now, you look at these things, and think “What’s the use?” The truth of the matter is, as the Lord Jesus taught us, “Men ought always to pray, and not faint.” It’s easy to “throw in the sponge.” The Lord wants us to move on for Him. We need to recognize God’s hand in everything. David said, “I would have utterly collapsed at the condi tions around me if I hadn't believed. Then it was that I saw the Saviour’s hand working.” My friend, you’re not going to see a miracle of the Lord unless you are willing to believe. The two are inseparably coupled to gether. You must believe in order to see. Underscore that in your mind as well as your Bible. We need to hang on, seeing God who is only visi ble through the eye of faith. I recall hearing my wife warn me on occasions, when we’ve been out travelling on the road, “If I don’t get some food, I’m going to faint!” Have you ever felt that way? A lack of proper nourishment may cause you to feel faint. You know what’s com ing, don’t you? How well nourished are you spiritually? Some of us not only have fainted, but we have nearly expired. It’s been so long since we were on a proper balanced diet. One may also faint from discouragement, seeing all of the problems and diffi culties on every hand. If we don’t trust the Lord, it can be devastating. Then, one can faint through chastise ment. Scripture admonishes us, “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked by him.” Disciplining is necessary and we should learn to accept it. CHAPTER SEVEN No doubt you have used Psalm 27:14 in seeking the Lord’s leading. We have heard other people quote it.
old-fashioned weapon which comes out of the armory of hell.” When people despise and malign you, seek ing your downfall and destruction, you have no recourse but to look to the Lord. There are generally two things we can’t stand as Christians. They seem to bother most people to no end. First of all, it’s difficult for us to endure our own failures. What's harder for most people to accept gracefully, however, is the success of others. As a result, in order to even the score, men criticize, complain, find fault, and sow discord. Actually, more people have been hurt by the edge of the tongue than those who have succumbed by the edge of the sword. Job was promised, “Thou shalt be hidden from the scourge of the tongue” (Job 5:21). With the trials he experienced, it was a real grace from the Lord. The Lord takes notice not only of what we give but also more importantly that which we have left. Look at the world today. There’s no mistaking the fact that there are untold difficulties and problems we all have to face. Here in Psalm 27:13, I think we find our own situation. Wouldn’t you say with David, “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” ? What he’s say ing is that he would have utterly collapsed unless he had believed God. This is always the way it is. You must believe in order to see. Peter reminds us, “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (I Peter 1:8). It’s sad, but true, that faintness of heart is a very common ailment. Look at all the things about us. Con sider the corruption in every strata of society and government. Think of the lawlessness and the utter con- 14
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