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Psalm 34:1 “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad.’

DAILY READING; Matthew 24:32-51; Numbers 28-29; Song of Solomon 8:5-14

One of the 20th century’s most beloved hymns is “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” written by Thomas Chisholm.
What is remarkable about this hymn is that it was written during a time of trial.
Thomas Chisholm was born in 1866 and after his basic education, he was unable to attend a high school. However by the age of 16 years, he did become a school teacher and later ventured into the newspaper business.
After his conversion to Christianity, he was later ordained a Methodist minister in 1903. But he suffered so much poor health that he couldn’t continue serving as a minister. He served only a single, brief appointment at Scottsville, Kentucky before resigning. Due to his ill health, he had to leave the town and relocated his family to Winona Lake, Indiana where he stayed to recover. As a prolific writer of poetry, he began writing Hymns to bless God.
When he eventually became stronger, by 1916 he took up the job of an insurance salesman.
Through the difficulties and trials he passed in life, Thomas continued to write hymns to bless God. By the time of his retirement in 1953, he had written more than 1200 poems, 800 of which were published. Out of the many hymns he wrote, the depth of meaning and lyrical beauty of the words found in “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” made it to stand out.
This hymn would eventually become greatly loved. Though, initially, it was slow to catch on in churches, when Billy Graham began to include the hymn in his crusades it became very popular. And today it is one of the best known hymns in the world, which continues to greatly bless many people.

In Psalm 34 David wrote. “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.’

Although, Thomas Chisholm had many things to complain about in his life, he chose rather to bless God.
The truth is that no matter what we may face in life, God is always faithful. Though we may fight battles, these are often fights of faith through which God’s faithfulness is proved in our lives.
While battles are real, our victory is always guaranteed through Christ. This is why in every situation rather than focus on the problem, let us give God praise.
God is bigger than anything you’re facing. God has you in the palm of His hand. And no matter how tough things may sometimes seem, God knows exactly how to tip things in your favor. Therefore instead of complaining, or wearing a spirit of heaviness, let us rather put on the garment of praise.
As the year draws to an end it is a good time to look back and recount the faithfulness of God. Indeed God has been good. Never mind some of the negative things that may seem to have happened. The only reason why you survived the things that came against you this year was because God is on your side.
Despite the storm, He has preserved you. You know that sickness could have killed you, yet you survived. That financial situation could have driven you crazy, yet God made a way.
God is indeed good all the time. This is why in everything we keep praising Him and judging Him faithful .
And in this last month of December, God that begun a good work in you this year, will surely bring it to completion. God will perfect all that concerns you. Indeed you are finishing this year well and strong in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for Your great faithfulness in my life.
Thank You for the victories You have given me in every battle this year. Indeed by Your grace I know that I am finishing this year very well and very strong in Jesus Name.

Quote
True success is not verifiable in the fact a man has never fallen before but rather in the fact that he did not only fall but also got up- WORDBITE 222.