One Word At A Time: Faithfulness
Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 7:00AM MAD21 By MAD21
The first thing I think of when I hear the word faithfulness is the old hymn, Great is Thy Faithfulness. We don't hear hymns much anymore, and I have to admit, I miss them. Our church tends to sing more contemporary worship music, but sometimes we get to sing some of the older stuff. I think the newer generations are really missing out on the messages some of these older hymns have to say.
A man named Thomas O. Chisolm wrote the words to Great is Thy Faithfulness in 1923. He did it as a way to tell people about how faithful God was all during his lifetime. I don't have the talent that Mr. Chisolm had to express in words my thankfulness to God for his love for me, but listening to the words of this song I feel the same passion.
There are countless times when my life was a mess and God never left my side. Countless times when situations and people failed me. Countless times when I failed myself. But God was faithful. In my darkest moments when I didn't think I had anything left, to the moments of pure joy, God was there, crying with me and laughing with me.
Faithfulness is another fruit of the spirit (Galations 5:22), another gift that was once part of God himself that he gave to us. So just as God is faithful to us, we are to be faithful to one another. In life, love, work, friendships, and family.
Mr. Chisolm based some of his words on this verse: "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail." (Lamentations 3:22) It's nice to know that in this world where failure is around just about every corner, there is One who will never fail us.
You can go here to listen to a more updated version of the hymn sung by Fernando Ortega, which is beautiful. But somehow I am still drawn to the original version.
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.
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!
My prayer is that you can see God's faithfulness in your life. And that you pray for your children to see it as well. For as you know, there will come a time when they will need to see God working in their own lives. And what better way for them to see what it looks like, than to look at the lives of their parents.
This post is a participant in a blog carnival over at Bridget Chumbley's One Word at a Time.
Be sure to go and check out what everyone else wrote on: Faithfulness.
Reader Comments (10)
I love "Great is Thy Faithfulness" and I can't believe that I didn't think of it... But when I was pondering the topic of Faithfulness, "I Call You Faithful" by Donnie McClurkin is what kept coming to my mind:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfZZtgbsTOo
Thanks for sharing, Ginny! :-)
I love the old hymns too. Another blog I read this morning prompted me to go listen to Bill Gaither singing I Believe, Help Thou My Unbelief. Another wonderful song relating to faithfulness.
In our church growing up we used to periodically do a hymn sing on Sunday nights...you could just call out our favorite and the pianist would play and everyone sang. You always were sure to hear your favorite that night.
Thanks for sharing this today!
I grew up only hearing and knowing a few hymns so I just wasn't exposed to them often. Now I love listening and singing them or just reading the words. For so many, you can tell they came from powerful experiences with God. All this is a little beside the point, but I love your post and agree completely. :)
I think I'm with you, Ginny - the origianl works best for me, too. And nobody can do it like one of the Gaithers' singers.
This was the song that kept coming to mind for me too. It is beautiful and says so much about faithfulness. I also pray that my children will experience it in their lives... thanks, Ginny.
I thought of the same hymn. Then I was reminded of my mom's fave, and went with that one instead. But you are right: these words are beautiful.
I'd never heard this hymn so appreciated both the audio and the words
Quite beautiful!
Thank you.
I thought this hymn so comforting that I used to sing it to my babies as a lullaby. It remains an anchor of the faith, in God's Great Faithfulness.
I love this hymn. "Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow" - my favorite line. You're so right about the prayers for kids. That will never stop. Just ask my mother :)
Great video, Sarah. Thanks!
Joyce- We used to have hymn-sings, too. Not sure what happened to them... I'll have to ask.
Anne- Me, too! I just love it. I've sung it often throughout my life, in so many situations.
Thanks for all the comments!