Hymn on my Heart

Great is Thy Faithfulness

I want to share with you a hymn that's been on my heart.

Through the daily struggles with sin and temptations to sin, and at times feeling defeated by it, it's so comforting to hear the truth spoken in 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."

It's refreshing to my heart to know that God has shown his love upon me by rescuing me from myself nine years ago. He convinced me that I am a sinner, that I broke His law, that I had to pay for my sin and the penalty was hell. I was terrified. God requires perfection! But no one's perfect right? Well no human is! God then showed me what He did for me! God sent His own son to live a life I couldn't live, die the death I should have, and defeated death by raising from the dead to be seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven!!! Jesus paid the price for me. He is perfect and did not have to pay that penalty, but did it in love so that whoever believes in Him and repents (turns away) of their sin will have eternal life. Sounds simple huh? Still that doesn't make me perfect. I still struggle to please Him, but not so that I may gain eternal life. I do it out of obedience to him. You see we are all servants of someone or something, it's either the Lord or something(someone) else. You can't serve two masters. I'm so thankful to be serving the One who has the power and love to protect and care for me for all eternity and I have no need to worry!

He IS faithful, and His mercies ARE new each morning! There are times where I feel I'm not growing much in my walk with the Lord but just beyond those times I feel as though He lifts me up and carries me much farther, much faster than my previous slow turtle pace. He has shown His faithfulness MANY times to me, undeservedly! He is my Father. I aim to please Him, though I sin. I aim to pray more, yet I all too often let my quiet times slip by or cut them short. I desire to be more like Christ, but there are days when I couldn't be distinguished from the world. I want to be a good steward of the gifts He has given me (husband, children, possessions, money, time), still I frequently use them for my own selfish motives and not solely for His glory! As I reread those last few statements what stands out most to me is "I" "I" "I". I(again I know:-) 'at times' am much too focused on myself. Either trying to do good(for myself) or sinful actions(for myself). I say 'at times' because if it were not for God's saving grace that He gave me it would be 'all the time' as it was before I was saved. On occasion it's nice to look back to my former self and see how far the Lord has brought me! And I'm amazed each time I look! Sometimes because it seems I haven't gone but a step, yet others because I can't even see that road anymore. It's a daily battle and I strive to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and run with perseverance the race marked out for me." (Heb 12:1) God is faithful and His steadfast love never ceases!!! I pray that you would know God's love and saving grace in your life today!!!

Great is Thy faithfulness, O 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.

Refrain
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.

Refrain

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!

Refrain