The Steadfast Love of The Lord

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
God’s mercies never come to an end
They are new every morning, new every morning;
Great is your faithfulness, O Lord,
Great is your faithfulness

This is a song I grew up listening to in church. Its sweet truth of God’s unfailing love plunges into my heart when I recall it – making me feel like I am being gently wrapped up in a warm and inviting blanket. Its lyrics and melody leads me to a place of feeling spiritually settled and secure – safe in the arms of Jesus. It was written by author Edith McNeill and based on the scripture in Lamentations 3:22-23.

Today, the pleasant memory of this song came fluttering forward into my mind. From somewhere in the long-ago, almost forgotten past, it offered up the recollection as I thought about the upcoming celebration of Valentine’s Day. A day set aside to celebrate love. I remembered this song and soaked in the rich revelation of God’s great love for us.

Love is a gift.

God’s love is the ultimate gift.

As this song describes, the love of the Lord is steadfast; resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering. It never ceases. It never comes to an end. It’s also new, brand-new, every single morning. Waking up with a fresh vibrancy. It is great. It is original. And among many other qualities, it is faithful.

God’s love is described in this way because that is exactly who He is. God, our father in heaven, is the creator of love. His love is all we need.

The steadfast love of the Lord is what we are all seeking.

The steadfast love of the Lord is what we are all seeking. I have heard it metaphorically said that we are all born with a God-sized hole in our heart that only He can fill. In our earnest search for love, we might allow the world, or the enemy, to offer up to us an alternative to God’s love – leaving us empty, confused and even wounded.

For many different reasons, we may choose a diluted counterfeit to substitute what we are created to receive. We might seek out unfulfilling or harmful relationships, acquire monetary treasures or develop real addictions that seemingly soothe our need to feel the love we are craving so desperately. These things may temporarily dull the desire and ache inside of us, however, only God can love us fully, wholly and without blemish. God does give us loving relationships, tangible blessings and genuine gifts that are incredibly fulfilling, not to mention important. Yet only His love can fill that special place in our heart.

The beautiful and quite simple truth is that God has made us to intimately share in an adventurous love-relationship with Him.

His word says,

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!…” -1 John 3:1

God truly does lavish His love upon us. He calls us His beloved children, His heirs. He gave us life. He desires to bless us and bestow good gifts upon us and we are considered part of His family.

In the book of Zephaniah the scripture reads,

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” – Zephaniah 3:17

This paticular verse expresses the love of God as both strong and soft. It powerfully compares His love as that of a mighty warrior – fierce and protective. It also impresses the compassionate and tender nature that God loves us so much that He actually sings over us – like a doting parent over a child. He rejoices over us.

The steadfast love of the Lord is also immensely sacrificial and the scripture found in 1st John explains why.

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:9-11

The love of the Lord is immeasurable, insurmountable and wildly unmatched. He loves us so much that He sent His own son, Jesus, to be the sacrifice for our sins. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can be with The Lord for eternity in heaven – if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

When we lean into this kind of love – true love, God’s love – we are filled to overflowing. It is unlike any other. Then, the love that God pours into us spills out over the top of our life and splashes onto others around us.

Have you ever been around people who know they are loved by God? Those who spend time with Him and walk in resolute confidence of His love? You can’t help but see the fulfillment evident in their countenance. They know they are loved, they receive it, then in-turn go and love others. It doesn’t mean they never have a bad day or negative feeling. It does mean, rather, that when they do have tough issues to wade through they are doing it beside their loving Heavenly Father. A Father who is providing strength, understanding, peace and even joy within their sufferings. They are facing their struggles fully loved.

Knowing you are unconditionally loved brings the ability to extend real love to others. When we receive true love from the Lord, we can love others with real love, too. No counterfeit needed.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. It goes on and on. We can never quench it. It will never run dry. It is for you and it is for me. It is for everyone! No one is exempt.

Dear friends, have you ever experienced this kind of love? God’s love? If you haven’t, let me invite you to dive in. You do not have to wait another minute. You can start by asking the Lord to draw close to you as you draw close to Him. Ask him to allow you to feel His love. Recognizing the truth of the gospel, that Jesus died for your sins and rose again on the third day. Confessing, repenting and asking Him to be your God is the foundation of your love relationship with Him. He loves you where you are today and is inviting you to accept His love.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:37-39

My prayer for you today is that you will know and experience the extravagant, steadfast love of the Lord! This Valentine’s Day, as the world around us celebrates its own version of love, let’s take ahold of the author of love and ask Him to fill us to overflowing!

“Do everything in love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:14

Receive the steadfast love of the Lord today!

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
God’s mercies never come to an end
They are new every morning, new every morning;
Great is your faithfulness, O Lord,
Great is your faithfulness

Be blessed, friends! Happy Valentine’s Day!

~ Stephanie