In 1923, Thomas O. Chisholm (1866-1960) wrote a poem about God’s faithfulness to us,  based on the scripture found in Lamentations 3:22-23.

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Thomas Chisholm’s life began in a Kentucky log cabin in 1866. He held a variety of employment positions. He taught school, was a newpaper editor, minister, life insurance agent, and business manager for the “Pentecostal Herald.” A prolific writer, he penned over 1,200 hymns, including “Living for Jesus,” and “O, To Be Like Thee,” and “He Was Wounded For Our Transgressions.” His felt it was important to incorporate as much scripture as possible into his hymns (poems) and to avoid what he considered sentimentality.

Unlike many hymns that are inspired by a specific event,  in writing “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” Chisholm recognized God’s faithfulness throughout his life. Chisholm sent the hymn to a musician friend, William Runyan, to have it set to music.  Runyan said, “This particular poem held such an appeal that I prayed most earnestly that my tune might carry its message in a worthy way, and the subsequent history of its use indicates that God answered prayer.”

Let us begin every morning in the joy and assurance of God’s faithfulness and love.