GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

Lamentations 3: 22-23: “Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness”

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning”

The faithfulness of God is not limited by any circumstance, nor any human condition. God is always faithful to all he created, especially his faithful children. I call him Jehovah faithful! The hymn Great is thy faithfulness is one of my favourite hymns for many reasons which time and space may not permit. Lamentations 3”22 says, “Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not”. I often see God’s mercies playing out in circumstances that are beyond me, and each time, I am always humbled because of God’s constant and immeasurable love that often plays out.

God’s faithfulness is always great and his compassions do not fail. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. His faithfulness is beyond the comprehension of any man. He comes out with new ways, new styles, new approaches to demonstrate his love and compassion towards men.

God’s faithfulness can reach you just as you are, and in whatever condition you may be in. God has a way of proving himself as the faithful one, who is too faithful to fail. No circumstance can limit him. This brings to mind the story of Nick Vujicic, who was born in Melbourne, Australia, 30 years ago with no arms and no legs. One can imagine how shocked his parents would have been to see him without limbs, yet with no medical reason or condition that could account for his disability. Thankfully his parents knew God and did their very best to keep him in the mainstream school system, which gave him every opportunity to live his life to the fullest. Though with physical disability, God’s faithfulness has opened unusual doors for Nick Vujicic. He had ups and downs in growing up and in becoming relevant to his world, but today, the faithful God has given him more opportunities than many of us with all parts of our body complete! According to his story (http://www.attitudeisaltitude.com/about-nick-his-story), he had stood to speak in over 44 countries of the world, inspiring thousands of people, motivating them to keep hope alive. God is still faithful, no matter your condition or situation. Don’t give up on yourself.

Thomas Obadiah Chisolm (1866-1960) the writer of the text of this beautiful hymn gave his life to Christ at age 27. From that time, his love for God’s word grew steadily and he often found strength, hope and courage in reading through the word of God. While away from home on missions, he decided to pen down a poem based on his reflection on Lamentations 3: 22-23 which had become a source of motivation for him in the midst of challenging situations he encountered in life. Thomas often wrote to one of his good friends, William Runyan, a relatively unknown musician whom God used to compose the popular tune (FAITHFULNESS) for this hymn. Thomas Obadiah Chisolm never knew his little poem will go beyond his friend, to inspire many Christians till date.

God remains the same in all seasons, be it summer, winter, springtime or harvest. He knows what is best for each season of your life and unlike men that changes like Chameleon, with every shade of situation and circumstance, he remains the same in all seasons. All of God’s creation in nature attests to God’s faithfulness, mercy and love towards mankind in all seasons; He created the Sun to illuminate the world during the day, to shine forth his glory over the beautiful world he created. He created the moon as the lesser light for the night, with beautiful stars to shine to adorn the skies at night. Therefore, God knows your situation and your circumstance; he knows what is necessary to beautify your life, and his glory he will not share with any man. He is still faithful and too faithful to fail over your story. Just hold on, trust him more, pray more, and follow him more. Your story will soon change for better. Numbers 23:19 tells us that "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”

God has the capacity to do all things, as he desires. He sees all things, and knows all things; he is the fair judge we can trust. I believe He will not bear to see any injury done to you his faithful child; for whatever is done against you, he takes as done against himself, and will reckon for it accordingly. God is abounding in faithfulness to his children.  He is so awesome and nothing can match His glory, strength, power, might, knowledge, forgiveness, blessings, riches, love, mercy, grace, omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, skill, handiwork, greatness, holiness, righteousness, availability, sensitivity, patience, tenderness, peace, graciousness, gentleness, self-control, joy, kindness, faithfulness, goodness, strategic ways, agape love, bravery, consistency, intentionality, humbleness, willingness, sympathy, empathy, beauty, authority, and anything else you can possibly think of.

Child of God, God’s faithfulness is at work for you. There is pardon for your sins and a peace that endures. God’s dear presence is with you, to cheer and to guide; His strength is available for today and bright hope for your tomorrow. No power of the devil can limit you, as long as you recognize your authority in God and use it rightly; no situation will be too powerful over your life. God, your father, is still faithful. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. As God brought out the Israelites out of Egypt from the slavery of their taskmasters, Jehovah faithful will bring you out with his mighty power and full strength in Jesus name.

Action Task:

1.      Sing the hymn Great is thy Faithfulness with this understanding shared.

2.      Declare that God is still faithful over your life, family, education, career, business, marriage etc.

3.      Declare by faith that because God is too faithful to fail, you shall not fail.

Prayers:

4.      Bind every negative voice over your destiny in Jesus name

5.      Ask God to arise against your adversaries to crush them with his mighty power

6.      Command every difficult situation in your circumstance to give way to songs of victory in Jesus name.

7.      Thank God for answer to your prayers.

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS
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.

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!

HAVE FAITH IN GOD

HAVE FAITH IN GOD

Mark 11:22-24

During one of our family devotions, my eight year old daughter gave an explanation on how we should cast our burdens upon God. She said many people really do pray and cast their burdens upon God and leave it there, but some, before they leave the place of prayer, often carry off their burdens with them due to lack of faith and impatience. In her understanding of scriptures as a child, she said “God may delay in answering some prayers because He was busy attending to other people’s requests”, therefore impatient people cannot receive God’s blessings. She told us that “when we carry our burdens to God in prayer, we should “leave them there” and wait patiently for his answer”. That is exactly how to have faith in God when we pray.

God hears and answers prayers in his own way, and at his own time. God knows what his children need at every point in time and because he is not a wicked father, he meets the needs accordingly. God sees and knows your ways from the foundation of it to the end, and he knows what is best for each of his children at every given period. Nothing is hidden from him, and nothing is difficult for him as well. When it seems that our prayers are not answered, it may be that we have prayed amiss, not in accordance with his ultimate will and purpose. This sometimes could mean an outright “no” or a “wait, not yet” as his answer to our prayer. 

Faith is an important key in our relationship with God. Hebrews 11:1 says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”Faith” [pistis] in Greek, refers to the conviction of the truth of anything in our belief in God. Conviction is a fixed form of belief which no argument, fact, or theory could change. It is an unwavering commitment that what you belief (God) will not fail. “Faith” does not believe that God can, it knows that he will.

A Christian should have faith in God in all circumstances, therefore B.B. McKinney in the words of the hymn “Have Faith in God” highlights few of such circumstances to include: “when your pathway is lonely”; “in your pain and your sorrow”; “when your prayers are unanswered”; and “though all else fail about you”. This means that in whatever situation you are going through, have faith in God, because He watches over his own and cannot fail. Therefore we can be assured that he must prevail, he will never forget, he will provide, he will not abandon. He knows your pain; he knows your despair. His heart is touched with your grief and despair and never alone is the least of His children. I believe you are in his agenda, and you are next in line for a miracle.

Jesus Christ says: “Have faith in God…Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11: 22-24). Challenges of life often seem like huge mountains, requiring only deeply rooted and active faith in God to surmount. Child of God, the mountain in your own context may be a condition that has become so overwhelming and devastating, whatever it is, have faith in God and that mountain shall soon become a platform for your elevation. I implore you to trust God’s word, cast all your cares and burdens upon him, speak with courage in your prayers, wait on the Lord, trust his words, and be patient.

If you have accepted Christ, you are his child. You are loved, accepted, and adopted as a true son or daughter.  Exercise your faith in God and encourage yourself. Your miracle is the next to be announced.

Action Task:

1.      Sing the hymn “Have faith in God” with understanding, until your faith is emboldened. 

2.      Reflect on God’s faithfulness to you and your family in the past, and list only five things for which you need to be thankful to God.

3.      Let go every bitterness and unforgiveness, and speak the word of faith over your situation.

Prayer Points:

1.       Thank God for  the love of Christ that qualifies you to be a child of God

2.      Confess that you know God watches over you, and because he does, you will not fail.

3.      Ask God to arise on your behalf and show his mighty power concerning an issue that is bordering you.

HAVE FAITH IN GOD

1.      Have faith in God when your pathway is lonely; 

He sees and knows all the way you have trod. 

Never alone are the least of His children; 

Have faith in God, have faith in God. 

Refrain:

Have faith in God, He’s on His throne; 

Have faith in God, He watches o’er His own. 

He cannot fail, He must prevail; 

Have faith in God, have faith in God.

2.      Have faith in God when your prayers are unanswered; 

Your earnest plea He will never forget. 

Wait on the Lord trust His Word and be patient; 

Have faith in God, He’ll answer yet.

3.      Have faith in God in your pain and your sorrow; 

His heart is touched with your grief and despair. 

Cast all your cares and your burdens upon Him; 

And leave them there, oh, leave them there.

4.      Have faith in God though all else fail about you; 

Have faith in God, He provides for His own. 

He cannot fail though all kingdoms shall perish; 

He rules, He reigns, upon His throne.  

ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS

ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS 

1 Corinthians 15:57

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

God woke me up from a dream with the hymn "Onward Christian Soldiers" (find lyrics below) in my mouth and on my mind. As I was wondering on what God was saying through this hymn, he challenged me by the Holy Spirit, to inspire and build his church. I have been singing this hymn from childhood, as I grew up with hymns in my parents’ home, but its meaning became more real to me after that night. 

This hymn addresses the church of Christ and every child of God to march on in victory as unto war. Every battle against the church of God or a child of God is a battle against God. However, victory is certain for those who are on God's side, because God is always one million miles ahead and “Christ, the Royal Master leads against the foe” 

As Soldiers of Christ, we are not to relent or grow weary in the fight of faith. We are to continue courageously with zeal, irrespective of our circumstances that seem like war. The battle belongs to the Lord; the cross of Jesus is going on before us.
To be victorious, we must be united (you know what that means for you and your church) as a church and as God's people; we are one body, one in hope, in doctrine and one in love.

Remain Blessed as you pray:

1. Ask God to strengthen you and grant you courage against the battles of life currently against you.
2. Pray for unity of purpose for your church, your family, and your denomination. 
3. Thank God for His grace and for your victory through Christ. 

Action Task:
1. Sing the hymn with this understanding and allow it to build your faith 
2. If God touched you in any way, share the testimony with others.

Words by Sabine Baring-Gould
Music by Arthur S. Sullivan

1. Onward, Christian soldiers marching as to war
With the cross of Jesus going on before
Christ, the royal Master leads against the foe
Forward into battle see His banner go

Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers marching as to war
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

2. At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee
On, then, Christian soldiers on to victory
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise
Brothers, lift your voices loud your anthems raise

3. Like a mighty army moves the church of God
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod
We are not divided all one body we
One in hope and doctrine one in charity

4. Onward, then, ye people join our happy throng
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song
Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King
This thro’ countless ages men and angels sing

HE LEADETH ME, O BLESSÈD THOUGHT!

HE LEADETH ME, O BLESSÈD THOUGHT!

Text: Psalm 23; Exodus 23:20; Deuteronomy 31:8

It is not by chance that you came by this blog. God has a message for you through a project he inspired. "How project" is God's commission of prophetic ministry to believers in Christ, and our mandate is to raise worshippers, to provide nurture through inspired messages, Bible studies, articles, and meditations on favourite Christian Hymns. We hope our periodic resources will be useful to you to inspire true and spirit filled worship to our Triune God. 

On 1st of September, 2015, as I meditate on God’s word in Psalm 23 and on the hymn “He Leadeth Me,” I heard God saying “fear not, I will go ahead of you”, “I will lead you in the way you should go, the way that leads to your prosperity and glorification”. Hear his words from the scriptures:

"Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Exodus 23:20; Deuteronomy 31:8 (NKJV)

Jo­seph H. Gil­more, the author of the text of the hymn “He Leadeth Me” grad­u­at­ed as a young minister with passion for ministry. Having ministered from Psalm 23 on several occasions before, on 26^th of March, 1862, during a mid-week service at a home fellowship meeting, he was led to speak again from this Psalm. God impressed the phrase “He Leadeth me” from the second verse of the text of Psalm 23 (KJV) on his mind so much that he could not go beyond it, and eventually the text of this hymn was inspired.

In whatever circumstance you may find yourself as a child of God, God’s mighty hand will lead you. God’s hand is always ahead making ways where there seem to be no way before. Gilmore never thought the text he scribbled on a small sheet of paper could go any further than that medium, but God kept promoting this inspiration until it became one of the best hymns ever published. Today, this blessed thought of his has imparted so many generations after him. 

If you make Christ your “leader” and you diligently follow him, God will go with you as you journey on in life, especially in the remaining part of the year. He will not abandon you, but he shall surely supply all your needs according to his riches in glory. He will lead you beside the still waters and on the path of righteousness for His name sake. No situation will terrify you, though you walk through the valley of shadows of death, his glory will shield you and you will not have any need to fear.

The circumstance around you now may not be very palatable, but as you wait for God’s salvation, be sure he is leading you and that you are faithfully following him. Shortly, he will prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies; he will anoint your head with the oil of gladness and cause your life to overflow with his abundant grace. Surely God’s goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life; and you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Fear not, but remain blessed in the Lord.

Action Task:

1.      Sing with understanding till you stir your faith on God’s word

2.      Speak a word of courage to your difficult circumstances;

3.      Take a step of faith in the right direction.

Prayer Points:

1.      Lord, I thank you because you are my leader

2.      Lord, I put my hand in yours, lead my way as I follow you faithfully

3.      Help me to find fresh grace to know you more and to trust in you more.

HE LEADETH ME, O BLESSÈD THOUGHT!

1.      He leadeth me, O blessèd thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

2.      Refrain:

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.

3.      Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, over troubled sea,
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me.

4.      Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.

5.      And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.