Great is His Faithfulness!

Hello, friends! Today’s post is a bit of a combination—a special Thanksgiving devotional. This time of year, I love to count the many blessings God has given me, and to think about the countless ways that He’s been so good to me. I’d like to share a few specific testimonies of His faithfulness with you, and my prayer is that these testimonies will inspire you to see His hand of love and mercy in your life as well!

One year of blogging. Last year, I started out on a new adventure. I’d never done anything like it before, and had absolutely no clue how to create a website! The first couple weeks were full of frustration (anybody remember the home page of my blog being blank for awhile? 😊), but I’ve learned so much and it’s been a joy to share encouragement with you as we follow this high calling of God in Christ Jesus together.

Today I got to meet my new nephew! I don’t think that there’s anything more precious than a newborn baby, and I’m so grateful for each and every one of my nieces and nephews. They bring so much fun and love to my life.

A new opportunity. One of my desires for years has been to work more with children, and God recently gave me the opportunity to work part-time at a local Christian daycare. The job has its challenges for sure, but I love helping care for the kids, and it’s an answer to prayer!

Good health. Although my health issues haven’t gone away, I have felt better and had more energy this year than I’ve had in the last five years. This is such a blessing, and there are some days I just have to praise the Lord, in awe of His gracious hand in renewing my strength. It’s a huge blessing to be able to live a normal, active life.

The love of Jesus. This year I’ve been blessed to realize the love of Christ in a richer and more beautiful way than ever before. I can truly say that Christ is enough, and that He satisfies the deepest needs of my heart. That’s a truth I’ve always known in my head, but this year it has become reality in my life and experience. He loves me so much He died for me—and that truth is the foundation of my life. Not only that, but He knows my name. He knows all about me and about the things in my life that may perhaps take me by surprise, or tempt me to wonder if He cares. He knows the way that I take! The treasure of His love is so precious, and it can never be taken away. Friends, if there’s one thing I could leave with you today, it would be this: let Christ be your fulfilment and your joy.

Sweet friends. Relationships are truly the most important part of life—first with the Lord, and then with others. I am so, so, so blessed by the many sweet and godly ladies that I am privileged to call my friends. These ladies are of all ages—some are Titus 2 ladies in my life, others are my peers, but each friendship is a gift. Their examples encourage me and I treasure the many friendships God has blessed me with.

Bible School. Except for the test stress, of which there’s been quite a bit this semester! 😉 But all that aside, the classes themselves have been interesting and spiritually challenging. So many times, a sermon that’s part of one of the classes is just what I need. My favorite class this semester combined church history and history of the Bible which brings me to the next thing:

The word of God in my own language. It’s sobering to realize that blood was shed and lives given up so that I can freely read the Bible in English today. I’m thankful for the sacrifices of men like Wycliffe and Tyndale, and many other believers whose names we don’t know, in order that we can have this unspeakable treasure of God’s word.

The beauties of nature. The past couple years, I’ve been learning to lift up my eyes and enjoy the amazing creation of God. It shouts His glory, His goodness, His beauty. The changing leaves were especially vibrant this fall and while we were camping I watched the most perfectly crescent moon setting.

The mercies of my heavenly Father are new every morning; His faithfulness is great and abundant. I’ve discovered that gratitude makes such a difference. It doesn’t change your circumstances, and it doesn’t bring to pass your unfulfilled desires, but it directs your heart and mind to the Lord. He is our joy! He is our hope! He is the source of our contentment! Though the world is going crazy, and though there may be times when you feel that your life is going crazy too, our God is still good. He is always good.

Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name (1 Chron. 29:13).

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. 

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.

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.

Thomas Chisholm