Great is Thy Faithfulness

These first few weeks of January have been a time of reflection for me. A time reevaluate my spiritual walk and to pray for direction. A time to look back at my life and to try and figure out what to do with the rest of it. I guess my thoughts are not that much different than millions of other people this time of year. I feel like I have drifted so far away from the place of fellowship that I enjoyed just months ago. I have let my pride, my selfish desires and my sin prevent me from enjoying full communion and fellowship with God.

I heard this hymn on the radio yesterday while I was in the shower, and as I listened to the words I was broken. I was broken with the weight of my sin, and as I cried and prayed with earnest pleas for forgiveness, I felt it wash away like the water sloughing down my back. What remained was a glorious feeling of renewal and openness that I haven't felt in a long time. The barrier had been breached, and my heart was overflowing with praise to the Father.

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.

God does not change, but I do. I fail in my walk, my prayer life and in my delineation of time spent in the Word. But He is steadfast and compassionate. He is faithful to forgive my weakness when I confess it with a contrite heart. He cleanses away past sins and weaknesses, and creates in me a clean heart. He is my Rock. He is God.

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.

His holiness and glory are so great that all of nature must bear witness to His magnificence. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, Who was, and is and is to come! My tongue does not have the words I need to express my love and adoration for my God who never changes and I bask in the warmth of His 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!

Not only do I reap the benefit of forgiveness for my sin, rebellion and disobedience, but I serve a God who stays beside me all the time. His presence is like balm to my soul and He gives me strength to endure any situation. He gives me love that I cannot afford. He blesses me a thousand times over in spite of my ever changing heart and spirit. He gives me hope.

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!

My soul cries out in thanksgiving and I cannot contain the tears of joy. As the prophet Isaiah said, "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips!" When I come undone in the presence of your holiness and power, you draw me closer and show me new mercies. You shelter me with your love and forgiveness and give me all I need. Thank you, Lord! Thank you for your never ending love and mercy. You have loved me with an everlasting love. I am your servant.