Mothers’ Union Devotion Wednesday 17th November 2021
Morning by Morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.
Great is they faithfulness, Lord unto Me.
Thomas Chisholm 1866-1960
This week the theme of our Mothers’ Union prayer diary is faithfulness, our faithfulness to God and the far more consistent faithfulness of God to us. Faithfulness is something we have all experienced in the lives of those who support us in our faith. Maybe it is worth spending some time this week remembering the faithfulness that we have witnessed in our lives. The people who encouraged us in our faith – family, friends, Sunday school teachers, study group leaders, ministers, writers, poets and the worldwide spiritual giants. Our church calendar remembers many such people from past generations. This week is particularly striking with early saints such as Bishop Dyfrig and Abbess Hilda from the 6th and 7th Centuries. Later Medieval Saints such as Queen Margaret of Scotland, Bishop Hugh of Lincoln and Princess Elizabeth of Hungary, and the more recent Saints, Martyrs and Missionaries of North America. The lives of all these people passed down to us as witnesses of faithfulness to our Loving Lord.
Faithfulness, however, does not always come easily. There are times when our faith seems to stand on very shaky ground. The behaviour of others, the news from around the world and our own internal narrative can cause us to waver in our trust and faithfulness. The ironic thing and yet infinitely comforting reality about faithfulness, is that the way we regain it to pray to the one we sometimes struggle to find. Because our Loving Lord never wavers in his faithfulness to us. No matter what we or the world are going through God is our rock, the unwavering foundation on which we can stand firmly, no matter what life throws at us.
God’s faithfulness is not just towards individuals but to institutions, organisations, projects and ministries which aim to put into practice the way that Jesus had called us to live. As we are reminded in the prayer for today:
Loving Lord, we praise you for your wonderful faithfulness to Mothers’ Union over the years and across the world.
There are times with branch closures and struggling projects, when we wonder if the glory days of Mothers’ Union are over but then we read and listen to the news from other branches in this diocese and across the world. We then realise just how wonderful the future promises to be. A future full of wonderful possibilities made a reality because of the unwavering faithfulness of God.
Faithful God, we praise you that you are the rock upon whom we can depend, whatever our circumstances. A rock, which is large enough for us to stand firmly upon and know safety and security. Amen (Prayer Diary, Saturday 20 November)
With all my love and prayers
Revd Sandra
