I am humbled and honored to share the following devotion which was awarded Third Place in the Advance the Kingdom Contest (Devotions) at the Asheville Christian Writers Conference, February 21, 2020.
Lamentations 3: 22-24 (NASB)
The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness.”
Sitting down in front of my computer screen to check emails, I was still reeling after receiving devastating news earlier in the day. My eyes burned from the tears shed; my heart felt weighed down from the disappointment. My mind was a mass of confusion, lacking understanding. Why Lord? Where are you, Lord? Help me get through this, Lord.
Tapping on the keys, my mail popped up. Scanning through them quickly, my attention was drawn to one from a dear, older women who, along with me, led Bible studies in our neighborhood: “Oh, my dear friend, I just know there is something wrong! I can’t get you off my mind. The Lord said, ‘Pray!’ and that’s what I have been doing. Please tell me how I can help you!“ The tears, so close to the surface, spilled out again as I typed a response, revealing my broken heart and how she could pray. Reaching out to me the way she did could only have been directed by God Himself. He knew what I needed and demonstrated His faithful love and compassion towards me by sending this dear friend to minister to me when I needed it the most. She was Jesus “with skin on.”
Thomas Chisholm, who wrote the beautiful hymn, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” penned these words: “Just think, with each new day, God gives us the chance to prove His faithfulness. And throughout history, He’s never once been proven wrong, for His mercies are new every morning, no matter what.”
It doesn’t take dire circumstances from which to be rescued to see His miraculous provision or to experience His faithfulness and compassion. He demonstrates how faithful He is in His Word, by answered prayer, and through the kindness of others. Though I might have chosen a different way for God to prove His faithfulness, He used it as a powerful reminder that He chooses the circumstances, we choose the response.
Father, may we always be sensitive to Your voice, to respond when You call us to be Jesus “with skin on,” demonstrating Your faithfulness to others. We pray in Your name. Amen.
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.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!
~ painting by Walter Dendy Sadler
