This morning, like almost every morning, my daughter and I headed out for our walk. Yes, it was below freezing and the sun was just starting to rise. I must say my heart was not in the walk this morning. I would have rather been snuggled under a warm blanket with a cup of coffee beside the fire. It is good for me though and my head knows it so I try to pray and thank God that I am able. Thank you Lord! We walked the road, which is our routine, and then headed back into the woods. Down this trail and that trail, through a clearing and then up a hill, one that never gets easier! As we got about halfway up the hill I could feel the sun on my back and could see our shadows ahead of us. The sun was on the rise!
As we got to the top of the hill we stopped for a moment. I turned around and saw a beautiful sight. The sun was so bright and streaming through the towering pines. The colors...bright yellow, red, and orange were just like something painted in a fine piece of art. It was so bright that it was hard to look at yet so beautiful you couldn't turn away. We stood there for a few moments just taking it in knowing that in just a few minutes it would be rising above those towering pines and bringing warmth and brightness to the day!
And on we went and in just a dozen steps or so we were out of the brightness, walking a path that was covered over in trees that blocked the sunlight...for now. I knew that this path would eventually lead us to a clearing and we would be back into that brilliant sunlight. That was when the Lord spoke to me and the verse Lamentations 3:22-23 was whispered in my ear..."Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness".
Then we are told that out of this great love that God has for us his mercy extends to us always. His love and mercy go hand in hand and since his love for us will never end neither will his mercy upon us. Every single day...EVERY single day no matter what we do, what we think, how we are tempted God's love and mercy for us is bestowed upon us. This is a promise but also a reminder. Out of the great love for us flows God's mercy each and every day, refreshed and refilled. Again, no matter how often we have to rely on his mercy it is there for us. Of course, this scripture is not a license to tempt God, live in sin, and then call on his mercy as a mindset. But it is a promise for you if your heart is set to follow God and walk in obedience to him, but you find yourself failing.
And the last part of this..."great is your faithfulness" ties it all together. God's indescribable, never ending love flows into his refilling and refreshing mercies which we can count on because of his always and forever faithfulness! Just as I can't fathom how God made such a beautiful sunrise this morning for me, it is sometimes hard to fathom this immense love, mercy and faithfulness God has for me, just this simple country girl. But just as I stood and was in awe and praise of the sun that I was blessed to see this morning I will stand in awe of his promises and praise him always!
Thank you Lord for turning my cold dark morning into a bright day of promise promises of love, mercy and faithfulness that never ends!
"In Your great compassion, You did not put an end to them; nor did You forsake them, for You are a gracious and compassionate God."Nehemiah 9:31
