Day: September 18, 2006

Encouragement – Day 29 – Great Is Thy Faithfulness!

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Lamentations 3:19-23, “Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. (19) My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. (20) This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. (21) It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. (22) They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (23)”

Oh Christian, as we near the end of our 30-day series on discouragement and encouragement, I want to emphasize where our encouragement comes from – our Source is the one and only Word of God! Happiness is achieved from tangible things or circumstances in our lives. But true joy comes from the Lord Himself.

Meditate on the trials of your past as Jeremiah did. This weeping prophet said in verse 20 that these afflictions were still in his memory. He did not forget because in those memories, he had hope! He had hope that his God would not leave him alone through the trials. Jeremiah had hope because he knew that the Lord’s compassions did not fail (verse 22). He had hope because the Lord’s compassions were new to him every morning (verse 23). Jeremiah had hope because he praised the One who was faithful! He did not forget to praise and thank the One who showered him with mercy!

My friend, have you praised God today? Is thankfulness and gratitude at the bottom of your list in your prayer life? The Creator of heaven and earth and Redeemer of your soul deserves to hear from your lips how grateful you are. This same faithful God filled with compassion is there daily providing us with new mercies! Oh, thank You Lord!! My heart is overflowing with gratitude today! A heart filled with gratitude does not have room for discouragement!

Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Thomas O. Chisholm

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

Day 10 – Whose Food Are You Eating?

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Reading: John 3:1-21

Today’s verse:

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?” (John 3:10)

Jesus doesn’t let Nicodemus off the hook here. He holds him to task. In fact, Jesus questions Nicodemus and asks him why he doesn’t know these things being that he is a “master of Israel”! Religious leaders have so much more responsibility in God’s eyes. They are supposed to lead the spiritually blinded to the truth. This isn’t just with the Jewish religion but it is true with every religion on the face of this earth. Each has a leader of some kind, whether it is a Rabbi, a priest, a minister, etc.

Why do we need someone else to read, interpret and digest the Bible for us when God tells us that we are responsible for doing this ourselves? Do you allow someone to eat, chew and swallow your food for you? Of course not! Then why do you allow someone else to read the Bible, understand it and glean from it for you?

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)

Each one of us must eat for ourselves to keep our bodies alive. The same goes for our spiritual bodies. We must feed our own spiritual bodies with spiritual bread. No one else will stand before God and give an account for your life but you!

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)

Dear God…
Oh Jesus, Thou art the bread of life.
I seek the Truth, I’m sincere.
Guide me where I can find this bread
And draw You ever so near!