For months I have been starting my hymn blogs for the month with my personal favorite hymns. But this month I want to start the new year with my very favorite, even though I have shared it previously. It is my personal testimony.
I also have chosen this because it is a great hymn of worship for a new year. Join me and making this the theme of our worship during the months ahead. Sing it each day as we thank and praise the Lord for all of His blessings.
"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23). This hymn is my very favorite because I have found it so very true throughout my life. God, my Father, has never failed me. He has kept all of His promises. He never changes even though things all around us change. He has provided all that I need.
And there are examples of His faithfulness all around us. The four seasons, the universe and all of nature remind us of that. But I especially love the truth of the blessings shared in the third verse - pardon for sin, a peace that endureth, His presence to cheer and to guide, strength for today and a blessed hope for tomorrow. And there are so many other blessings beside. I are so blest!
The author of this great hymn, Thomas Chisholm, was born in 1866 in the state of Kentucky. While he wrote over 1200 hymns, the one we remember the most is this one. Chisholm did not write it because something great and miraculous had taken place in his life. No, he wrote it because over his entire life he had learned to see the greatness of God. At the age of 75, he wrote: "My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now. Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me man y wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness."
The tune for this great hymn was composed by William M. Runyan (1870-1957). Popular gospel singer and songwriter Beverly Shea first introduced this hymn to audiences in Great Britain in the Billy Graham Crusades in 1954. It has been a favorite of believers since then.
Hopefully. if you are a believer, this hymn is also your personal testimony. May you experience each day His mercies and His provision. Then, you too can proclaim - great is His faithfulness! As it was in the past, so it will be in 2025 and beyond! Thank you Lord!
(1) 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!
(2) 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.
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!
(3) 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!
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!
