PSALM 100:5 – For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
THEME OF THE DAY. LOOKING BACK: GOD’S FAITHFULNESS. The end of 2020. What a year is to state the obvious! Each of us faced never encountered before challenges, fears, and disruptions in life. On our jobs, in our churches, schools, among our families and communities, routines were shattered or at least drastically altered. We have become less busy outside of our homes (not a bad thing) but more isolated from people – extended families, neighbors, other believers, and that has not been a good thing, especially for Christians who need consistent, even constant, fellowship with other Christians. We don’t know yet the significant damage that has been and is occurring as human beings live at a distance from one another, but it will be significant. God made us social beings and when the created order is disrupted, nothing ever good comes out of such disorder. Yet, looking back, we also need to look at today’s scripture and apply it.
Despite the many trials in the just completed year, the Lord has been good, His steadfast love endured, and His faithfulness to care for us proved over and over. And today is a good day to take extra time with Him in your families and/or with other believers to celebrate these truths with extended prayers of thanksgiving and praise. In fact, here is one taken from the puritan devotional “The Valley of Vision” to use in the worship of our God for who and what He has been in 2020 – good, loving, and faithful.
DIVINE MERCIES
Thou Eternal God,
Thine is surpassing greatness, unspeakable goodness, super-abundant grace; I can as soon count the sands of ocean’s lip as number thy favors towards me; I know but a part, but that part exceeds all praise. I thank thee for personal mercies, a measure of health, preservation of body, comforts of house and home, sufficiency of food and clothing, continuance of mental powers, my family, their mutual help and support, the delights of domestic harmony and peace, the seats now filled that might have been vacant, my country, church, Bible, faith.
One of the marks of a Spirit-filled Christian is living in the spirit of thanksgiving. The Apostle Paul would affirm this truth in his letter to the believers in Ephesus – And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:18-21). So, as we look back at the just completed year and look ahead to the potential new year, remember to be thankful and express thanksgiving. Regardless of what we have been through and the trials that lie ahead, God remains faithful to us, and that alone is cause to give Him abundant thanksgiving.
PRAYER: “Father, though this year has been hard and my faith sometimes weak, I praise You for Your faithfulness.”
QUOTE: “God has been, is, and will be true to Himself despite our circumstances; true to His steadfast love and faithfulness.”