Tuesday, August 24, 2010

August Devotional: God's Faithfulness

Lamentations 3:22-23

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness.”

We have all seen firsthand the faithfulness of God. We recently experienced it through the circumstance of what Holly, a mamber of our Leadership Team, and her family went through with their baby, Sage, while she was hospitalized for the third week of her life. Holly’s account reminded us that it was her faith along with her family and friends that enabled her to make it through this difficult trial as she had "faithful patience" believing in the faithfulness of God to hear her prayers for her baby girl.

God’s faithfulness is recorded throughout scriptures. We think of the children of Israel as they were rescued from the Egyptians as the Red Sea opened for them and closed upon the pursuing Egyptian army and God's faithful provision as they wandered the wilderness for forty years. We see God’s faithfulness to Rachel, Ruth and Rahab. Time and again we see the hand of God proving His faithfulness to His children.

God’s faithfulness is something that we can count on and yet at times, we forget. We worry and fret about things and try to count on ourselves. Today let’s focus on Him and His faithfulness to accomplish those things that concern us. He is able and He will do it.

"Great Is Thy Faithfulness."
Great is Thy faithfulness, Oh God My Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!