Streams of Mercy - Whose waters never fail
It was You who opened up springs and streams... (Psalm 74:15).
God our Father in heaven, You are our King from long ago; You bring salvation on the earth Psalm 74:12). You are the One God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live (1 Corinthians 8:6).
We declare with David, Your works are wonderful, I know that full well (Psalm 139:14). Your power, majesty, and authority are evident in the wonders of creation and in Your mighty works: For You are great and do marvelous deeds; You alone are God (Psalm 86:10).
Father, we are grateful for Your mighty works. Thank You for the wonders of Your love, the greatness of creation, the grand displays of Your power and deliverance. Thank You for Your floods of compassion, Your rivers of grace.
But help us not to miss the evidence of Your great gifts and benefits in the everyday miracles, the simple joys—the streams of mercy You renew morning by morning, day by day.
Help us not to forget that it is You who open up the springs and streams that water our lives with Your daily goodness, provision, and grace.
The uncertainties, the difficulties, and the deprivations of our recent global pandemic showed us how much we have so long taken for granted. And even then, Your mercies did not fail. So even as we have resumed so many activities—so many benefits that were threatened, lost, or deferred, help us not to slip back into mindsets of grumbling, complaining, entitlement, or ingratitude.
Teach us to contemplate with new awe and appreciation the marvels and mysteries You have built into some of the "ordinary" benefits around us. Thank You for homes and families, friends and community, food and faith. Thank You for the grace and love that sustain and refine us through every difficulty, every trial, every need.
Teach us to seek You and find You in simple joys, daily gratitude, spontaneous worship, ordinary steps of obedience.
Thanks to God for my Redeemer, Thanks for all Thou dost provide! Thanks for times now but a mem’ry, Thanks for Jesus by my side! Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime, Thanks for dark and stormy fall! Thanks for tears by now forgotten, Thanks for peace within my soul!
Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered, Thanks for what Thou dost deny! Thanks for storms that I have weathered, Thanks for all Thou dost supply! Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure, Thanks for comfort in despair! Thanks for grace that none can measure, Thanks for love beyond compare!
Thanks for roses by the wayside, Thanks for thorns their stems contain! Thanks for home and thanks for fireside, Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain! Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow, Thanks for heav’nly peace with Thee! Thanks for hope in the tomorrow, Thanks through all eternity!
~ August L. Storm ~1891
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