Steadfast Love

Steadfast.

What the heck does that word really mean? Staying fast? Standing in one place?

An old worship chorus has been playing in my mind today--I was even humming it over and over while I was at the grocery store this afternoon: "The Steadfast Love of the Lord"

It comes straight out of the book of Lamentations, the third chapter, verses 22 & 23:

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

When I was 17, I bought a bottom-of-the-line Conn classical guitar with my hard-earned babysitting money. I thought it was gorgeous. I proceeded to spend afternoons and evenings behind the closed door of my bedroom, sitting on my bed, teaching myself how to play simple 3-chord songs.

Sometimes I would take my guitar with me to the evening youth group meetings at my church. (Shout-out to New Life House and Thousand Oaks Christian Center alums!) I would sit on the floor with a group of more advanced guitar players, singing and playing some of the worship songs, trying to stay-up with them.

And while I was learning new songs, if I would come upon a word in scripture that was not normally used in common day conversation, I would look up the definition to help give a broader picture.

The word steadfast means: firmly fixed in place : immovable : not subject to change

That sure helped me understand a bit better God's love for me.

His love isn't going anywhere.

His love for me is like an object planted in cement--it is standing strong and can't be moved.

He has not given Himself the option to take His love somewhere else if He gets disappointed in me.

I can count on Him loving me--even if I don't feel it or believe it.

Tomorrow morning, I will eagerly go to the house of the Lord and use worship songs to express my love and His truth: His steadfast love never ceases!

Amen!