Daily Devotionals
June 15, 2020
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
June 15, 2020
DAILY READING
FIELD NOTES
During the time that we have been tucked away at home to avoid COVID-19, I have found myself wandering around the house singing. It is something I have always done, but much more so lately.
This week of writing is addressing the spiritual fruit of faithfulness. God is always there ahead of us…faithful to his covenant relationship with us. He did it first. Our gift of faithfulness is given by the Holy Spirit and grows as it is exercised. So, let’s say that my singing is a bit of spiritual exercise! And my mind naturally goes to hymns containing the ‘word’ faithfulness.
“Thomas Chisholm, the author of “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” and 1200 other poems, was born in a log cabin in Kentucky in 1866, and he lived a pretty unremarkable life: he worked as a school teacher, a newspaper editor, and insurance agent, then he retired and spent his remaining days at the Methodist Home for the Aged in New Jersey. Unlike many hymns that have heart-wrenching stories behind them (for instance “It Is Well with My Soul”), “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” is inspired by the simple realization that God is at work in our lives on a daily basis. He wrote, “My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now. Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness.” The hymn reminds us that God doesn’t only work in dramatic or miraculous ways, but also in simple, everyday ways. It also reminds us that Jesus has never failed us in the past, so we have no reason to doubt his faithfulness in the future. –Greg Scheer, 1994”
Because this is a familiar hymn, we might hear it best when it is sung less traditionally. I invite you to pray it as you listen to Veritas. Listen to it here.
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
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 wilt 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]
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT CHALLENGE
For the duration of our sermon series, we are offering daily prompts for applying the wisdom from the scriptures to our everyday lives. Each week focuses on how we can encourage those around us and bear fruit! This week we are focusing on the fruit of faithfulness.
After looking around at all of them, Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was restored.
Luke 6:10
Reflect on God’s faithfulness in your life. Who have you seen exhibit faithfulness in their own life and how has that been a blessing to you? Take a moment to encourage them today!
To learn more about the Fruit of the Spirit challenge, click here.