Remembering the character of God and the wonderful things he has done moves us to praise and thank our great God for who he is and what he has done. This series of devotions have been written by Sarah Condie to encourage you to ponder the loving deeds of the Lord, so that songs of joy and thankfulness bubble forth from within you. Some devotions will focus on small but significant habits, while others will focus on the character of God.
At the end of each devotion and prayer, Sarah has provided a link to a song. Everyone’s taste in music is unique, so please, if you don’t like her choices, choose songs that you love.
10 Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.Isaiah 54:10
Reflection
We are regularly reminded of how perilous our world is. Earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, erupting volcanoes in Indonesia, devastating storms here in Australia, and more. Those mountains and hills that look so invincible are not. When I look at the devastation of such natural disasters, I feel overwhelmed.
I find this verse comforting. It reminds me that while much in our world and my own life shifts and changes and shakes, God remains the same. He is unchanging. I often return to this verse and let its truth fill my mind with what it tells me about God.
When everything else in my world is in flux, his unfailing love will not be shaken. When everything else in my world is moving and changing, his covenant of peace will not shift. And he is compassionate. With tenderness, he sees and hears and understands our needs and our fears.
Rather than focusing on the uncertainties of what will happen tomorrow, I try to ground myself in this truth. Yes, we must expect the unexpected, but of this we can be sure – that our unchanging God will not budge from his loving commitment to our good. There is solid ground beneath us no matter what comes our way. And his heart of compassion towards us does not shift even when we struggle to believe this or are overwhelmed with fear. Praise God for our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who remains the same yesterday, today and forever.
Prayer
‘Be present, merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night: that we, who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting world, may rest on your eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.’ Third Collect of the evening, Australian Prayer Book.
Song: Blessed Assurance – CityAlight
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0GWYckPQ2mTA4ihMXTeTao?si=405f634f63f84109
YouTube: https://youtu.be/LIHwnj8Bbvw
This series of devotions was written for and first published by The Bible Society Australia.
