Episode 186

The lyrics to “Blessed Assurance” come from the book of Lamentations. Several years ago, I recorded a fun, upbeat version of that old hymn, and you can hear it on Spotify, YouTube and other online sources to this day. The message in “Blessed Assurance” will help you remember the truth in today’s declaration—a truth well worth believing and speaking.

I’m a big fan of blueletterbible.org. I visit the site whenever I want to look up the original language of a word and its meaning. I did that today with the word “compassions.”

Lamentations 3:22-23 says that the Lord’s compassions never fail. They are new every morning. The word “compassions” comes from the Hebrew word rāḥam, which means to love, love deeply, have mercy, be compassionate, have tender affection, have compassion.

God loves you so much that no matter what happened yesterday, you can start fresh with him today. You don’t have to wake up with guilt or shame over what happened yesterday. You can step into today knowing that God’s enduring love and faithfulness don’t depend on you. He is faithful when we are not. He is loving when we are not. He is full of mercy and grace so that we do not have to carry guilt and shame. No wonder the old hymn sings of our blessed assurance. Waking up to the knowledge of God’s new mercies offers merely a foretaste of the glory of God. As children of God, we are indeed blessed. This is my story. This is my song. Praising my Savior all the day long.

No matter what comes your way today, remember that God loves you. When you lay your head on your pillow tonight, thank God for his loving compassion. Before you drift off to sleep, confess any sinful thoughts, words, or deeds that you were responsible for today, knowing that God will purify you from all unrighteousness and that you can start fresh, with a clean slate tomorrow and every morning. We are blessed to be loved by such a great God.

This week’s scripture: Lamentations 3:19-26