Great is Thy Faithfulness

I was listening to the words of the great hymn, Great is Thy Faithfulness, yesterday. I was struck anew at the power of this hymn. It was written by Thomas Chisolm and apparently he says it was written for no particular reason other than his experience and bible truth. It was written in 1923. I am always amazed at those who can put words to their thoughts. These were big thoughts!

Have you ever sat down and just said each one of these sentences, stopped and just pondered what it means? It is an amazing prayer. I was really struck with the fourth verse. The line strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. In a study I am doing the teacher talks about the extreme teachings on miracles. They are categorized in two ways, Cessationism and Sensationalism. Within the first one the teacher said, "The profoundly serious disservice of cessationism is that is cheats the believer and undercuts hope." (Beth Moore's 'Believing God') That quote immediately took me to that third line of Great is Thy Faithfulness. The question to you is what happens when someone or something tries to take our hope away? What are your thoughts?

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

(a note on copyrighted material....this is copyrighted, but I am using it under the fair share use clause as I am not using it for a performance, church service or other public gathering)