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May 2006
God’s Mercies are New Every Morning!
Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” - Lamentations 3:22-24
What a great hope we find here in Lamentations, a book in which Jeremiah the Prophet is otherwise largely in anguish over himself and his people! In fact, some of our greatest songs of praise and worship have been written from these very words! Think about it: God’s mercies are new every morning! His compassions fail not! That’s right – no matter what you are facing right now – maybe it is a relationship or a marriage that’s in trouble, maybe its your finances, your job, your children, or your health that’s is in question – consider this, God’s mercies are new every morning! His compassions fail not! The fact that God’s mercies are new every morning raises some very important questions. If God’s mercies are new every morning, then why do we worry about tomorrow? Isn’t it true that almost everything we worry about has YET to happen? We worry about tomorrow – and yet, God’s Word tells us His mercies are new every morning! He has mercy for us to face tomorrow’s need. He tells us, “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34). So, practically speaking, when you find yourself worrying about what has not yet happened, or what MIGHT happen, remind yourself of this truth – God’s mercies are new every morning, and His compassions fail not! If God’s mercies are new every morning, then why not praise Him today? In the midst of your trial, why not praise God for His mercies right now? Consider this – if a ship were to come under some rough weather, you might see people exhibit three types of reactions. One group might look at the rough seas and the gargantuan waves and become fearful. These people might even jump ship or fall into an inconsolable panic. Another group might hang in there through the rough weather, despite their doubts and fears, but when it is all over, you find that they were literally hanging on with white knuckles and not having too much fun doing it! And yet, a third group might not look at the weather at all or give heed to any warnings of impending doom. They will look into the eyes of the captain, who is quite assured, and they will rest confidently. They might even be jovial, despite the storm! The fact that God’s mercies are new every morning gives us reason to PRAISE Him in the midst of our hardship! Even when he lost his wealth, his children, and his health, Job did this. He said, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord,” (Job 1:21b). Even after Job’s wife tells him to “curse God and die” (one would argue God kept her around as part of Job’s testing), Job would say, “Though He slay me, I will yet trust Him,” (Job 13:15). So despite your circumstances, praise God because His mercies are new every morning, and His compassions fail not! If God’s mercies are new every morning, why not exercise faith and confidence in Him? God has promised us that He will not leave us or forsake us. Not ever! That means that even if we are facing trials that seem insurmountable, we can have confidence! Consider this example – in 1 Samuel 30, King David and his men return from battle to their home in Ziklag and find that the Amalekites had invaded, burning Ziklag with fire and taking their wives and children captive. David and his men wept, and the Bible says that David was greatly distressed, “but David strengthened himself in the Lord His God,” (1 Samuel 30:6). Against all odds, David brought his petition before the Lord by faith, and God faithfully answered him. God’s compassion did not fail David and will not fail us, no matter what the situation! Now you may say – wait a minute pastor, if God loves me so much, why am I going through this trial? If His mercies are new every morning, why does each day seem to bring new challenges, new hardships? The answer is clear. The same God who is faithful to meet our need and restore us is faithful to discipline His children. Some may think the best thing that God could do for us is to give us what we want, and to allow us to have an easy life. Isn’t that so often what we desire? Ease and comfort! But nothing could be WORSE for us! It has been said that, “the silver spoon in the mouth of children will choke them.” God allows us to endure trials so that we might develop that strength of character, that wisdom and discernment that makes Christians stand apart! Show me someone who has not suffered much, and I will show you a very shallow person! Here in Lamentations 3:31, Jeremiah writes, “Though He causes grief, yet will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.” God does not cause us grief in the sense of bringing us into evil, but rather in the sense of pain or discipline. God is faithful to discipline us for our own good! We endure trials of many kinds, and if we are honest, we know our walk with the Lord is deepened in those times. God does not take pleasure in our suffering, but wants us to mature! “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed,” (1 Peter 1:6-7). So remember that God’s mercies are new for you every morning, and His compassions never fail. We can say, then, as Paul did, “for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,” (2 Corinthians 4:17). 
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Encouragement to Endure - by Pastor Lloyd 
Sooner or later we will all face trials, tribulations, and persecutions. The question we tend to ask during those difficult times is, "Why Lord? Why am I going through this?" We don't always know the answer to that question, but we do know that God's Word promises that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
In this series of 8 messages, Pastor Lloyd takes a look at challenges believers face, and how we can overcome and even benefit from those difficulties. Pastor Lloyd encourages all of us to endure! Click here to purchase this CD/Tape. |
Visit www.ccob.org for the latest news and updates from Calvary Chapel Old Bridge. Read past devotionals Visit Our Other Sites: • Missions • Bridge FM • Bridging The Gap • Calvary Christian School • Verse to Remember |
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