Always

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations3:22,23NIV

The old testament prophet Jeremiah is known as the ‘Weeping Prophet’, but there is no sign of sadness here when he talks about compassions. That’s plural because God is compassionate in every part of our lives. What a word of promise to grasp. It’s more than pity, or sympathy, or even empathy, and it is God given.

Who among us has not had a tough day? Perhaps with bad news about health or finances? When these times come (and they do) we don’t feel like praying, even though we know there is only one source for peace of heart and mind. This lovely passage tells me that God’s great love for us prevents Him from turning away. “We are not consumed” is the way it is recorded in the Bible. God’s love for us is both infinite and eternal and we should be thankful.

But it doesn’t stop there. God is compassionate in a way that no human can copy or explain. His compassions NEVER fail because He is faithful beyond our wildest imaginations. So, when we have one of those days when our world is crumbling around us, and we lay our head on the pillow desperately wanting sleep to forget, God is not asleep! And get this, His great love and compassions are new every morning! EVERY MORNING, whether we had that bad day or a good day because His love does not depend on us. God loves us with an everlasting love in spite of ourselves, and because of who He is! I don’t know about you, but all I can say to that promise is “thank you, and amen Lord”.

Vitamin Deficiency

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke18:1NIV

I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. Psalm34:1NIV

Are you a good patient? Or do you do your own thing when it comes to your health? Let me guess. You go to the health shop and after a lot of thought you buy some vitamins because your body needs some help. You could have an underlying condition, or you are maybe just getting older and you need these vitamins to balance your body’s needs.

More than that, you go to the doctor and she gives you a wee pill on prescription for an ongoing condition, and when you ask how long you will need to take them, she says you will always need to control your cholesterol or blood pressure.

Let me guess, when you get the vitamins and the prescription, as soon as you get home, you take them. But then you stop. Well, you think, I took the pills but now you are surprised to be feeling as bad as ever during the days and weeks ahead. I am joking. Of course you are not that stupid because you wouldn’t be so short sighted. To get the benefit, you need to keep taking the medicine, right?

So, what makes us think we should have a part-time relationship with talking to God, praising Him, or reading His Word? We wouldn’t be so silly with our bodily health, so it makes sense that we need to look after our spiritual health, and we do that in the best way possible. There are no shortcuts in dealing with temptation or those sinful desires. We must keep on taking the spiritual medicine! During my Sunday School days we would sing “Read your Bible, Pray every day, and you’ll grow, grow, grow”. In case you still haven’t got the message, let me leave you with this verse which says it best.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1Thessalonians5:16-18NKJV

Grand Old Duke

You might just remember playing the party game and singing this song:

“Oh The Grand Old Duke of York

He had ten thousand men

He marched them up to the top of the hill

And he marched them down again.

When they were up they were up

And when they were down they were down

And when they were only halfway up

They were neither up nor down”

Now we find ourselves between Christmas and the start of a fresh new year, and after the events of the past year, possibly feel in “no man’s land”, or “neither up nor down”. Join the club, because this can be a dead week. Neither the fun of Christmas giving, nor the wonder of what lies in store for the year that’s yet to unfold. These can be down days.

We need to be reminded that although for us, every day is not the same, and our feelings go up and down, blow hot and cold, feel dark and depressed, our great God is none of these. It is important that we stop feeling, and start thinking and taking God at His Word. He is not subject to whims of feeling, but a sure and certain God in His dealings with us. So faithful pilgrim, when we feel down, remember, and hold on to these words which will get us through:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8