The author of today’s beloved hymn is Thomas Chisholm (1866-1960). Though he was not offered a formal education, became a schoolteacher in the same schoolhouse that he was educated. He later became associate editor of the local newspaper and moved on to be an editor of the Pentecostal Herald in Louisville, Kentucky. At the age of 26 in 1983 Thomas became a Christian, and in 1903, he was officially ordained a minister; he was however forced to limit his years of service due to his poor health. Throughout his life, Thomas wrote hundreds of poems. One such poem was based in Lamentations 3:22-23 where it says, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness”. Thomas eventually sent his work to a fellow minister and friend, William Runyan who configured a musical setting for the poem, which is the hymn we have today¹. Enjoy!

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
as Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed Thy hand hath provided:
great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest;
sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Refrain

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow:
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Refrain

¹geneva.edu/blog/uncategorized/hymnology-great-is-thy-faithfulness

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