Lamentations 3:22-23 ‘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.’

DAILY READING; Acts 13:1-25; Joshua 18-19; Job 29

The song ‘How Great Thou Art’ has consistently been listed as one of the greatest hymns ever written, usually considered second only to ‘Amazing Grace’.
Interestingly this famous hymn has its origins as a poem written by a former sailor in a small town in Sweden.
The writer, Carl Gustav Boberg, was a 26-year old young man, who had a divine encounter that made him to quit his job as a sailor to start working as a lay-minister in his native Sweden.
One Sunday afternoon, after executing his pastoral duties at the Church, he was caught in a thunderstorm. From his perch in the mountains, Boberg watched as the storm swept in with a bolt of lightning and massive clap of thunder. The storm hurtled through the meadows and grain fields, reverberating across the countryside with the sound of its astounding power. After the storm, pastor Boberg looked out through his windows and found a rainbow spread across the sky and the birds singing gloriously.
At that moment, Carl was overwhelmed by God’s power and majesty. The result was an outpouring of adoration and worship in the writing of the song, which first had the Swedish title of ‘O Store Gud’ meaning ‘Mighty God’.
The song, which is a declaration of God’s infinite greatness began to appeal to the hearts of those who heard it. Soon it reached beyond the shores of Sweden and became translated into different languages including German, Russian, and English. The English version was titled ‘How Great Thou Art’.
It was later song by many famous musicians including Elvis Presley and Carrie Underwood. Within 50 years, it was recorded over 1,800 times.
Today, it continues to be sung all over the world by millions of Christians in different languages as they declare the heartfelt humble adoration, “My God, how great Thou art!”

Reflecting on God’s faithfulness in the past 12 months, we cannot help but declare ‘“My God, how great Thou art!”
Indeed we have seen the power and wonders of God in diverse dimensions this year.
Truly God has been amazing!
Because memory is a catalyst for worship, today, is a good time to look back at the many blessings of God so as to give Him worthy praise. Indeed on this last day of the year, we must be deliberate not to forget the benefits of God that we have received.

Ps 103:1-2 says “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits”.

This year, by the mercies of the Lord we have not been consumed. Despite, the current uncertainties and instabilities in the world, God has been our refuge and strength, and our ever present help in trouble.
As the world struggled through economic confusion, panics and pandemics, God’s Word has remained our anchor and solid rock.
Even those times, when it seemed we passed through the water and the fire, yet through faith in God’s Word, we were able to overcome.
Truly, God has delivered our soul from death, our eyes from tears, and our feet from falling [Psalm 116:8].

For all of these blessings, God deserves our special thanks today as we finally come to the end of this year. What a great and mighty God we serve!
As we prepare to cross over into the New year, let us keep declaring His greatness and faithfulness. If it had not been for the Lord on our side, especially in this season, where would we be? Let us therefore bless Him from the depth of our hearts.
And as we look forward to the New Year that is about to begin, let us continue to thank God in advance.
As we keep thanking Him in anticipation, surely, He will go ahead of us to make every crooked path straight and show us even greater and mightier things in the coming year.

PRAYER: Lord I am deeply grateful that You enabled me to see the last day of this year. I thank You precious Lord for all Your blessings and benefits in my life. May all glory, honor and adoration be unto You alone now and forever in Jesus Name.

QUOTE
When you praise God despite your situation power is released for a raise. – WORDBITE 222