Vibrant Hope

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.  Jer 29:11

There is no foreseeable future without hope.  Our future is closely tied to the hope we have, because hope releases the future.  Hope inspires the future because without hope there is no vision, and without vision the people perish.  Hope births vision, because hope sees positively into the future.

Hope is tied to our belief in God and His promises, especially His promise that pertains personally to us as individuals.  The more hope that we have in God's promises to us, the tighter we can hold on to a future filled with expectation in His goodness and grace.  God's intent toward us, as the scripture from Jeremiah states, is good and prosperous.

Hope can ride adversity because our hope in Him keeps us secure.

For you will forget your trouble; you will remember it like water that has flowed away.  And life will be brighter than the noonday; though there be darkness, it will be like the morning. And you will be secure, because there is hope.  Job 11:16-18

Hope keeps us optimistic for our future.

Even if He slays me, I will hope in Him. Job 13: 15a

Hope can be restored on a word from the Lord.

From there I will give back her vineyards to her, and turn the "Valley  of Trouble" into an "Opportunity for Hope."  There she will sing as she did when she was young, when she came up from the land of Egypt. Hosea 2:5

Hope brings joy.

Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced; my body also will live in hope.

Hope increases faith.

Against hope Abraham believed in hope with the result that he became he father of many nations according to the pronouncement, so will your descendants be. Rom 4:18

Hope sees the eternal, invisible realm.

For in hope we were saved.  Now hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance." Rom 8: 24-25

Confident hope brings boldness.

My confident hope is that I will in no way be ashamed but that with complete boldness, even now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether I live or die.  Phil 1;20

Let us thank God for the hope that we have in Him, for His promise to us is that our future is bright no matter what it may appear to look like at the present.  God loves us and wants us to have a vibrant, faith filled and expectant hope in our future, because He holds it securely in His Hand.

   

No Spirit of Fear

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near. Heb 10:24-25

With all the natural disasters around the world, surely people are beginning to wonder what is happening. Our world which seemed stable is seemingly being hit in all directions with earthquakes, cyclones, floods and even financial disasters. Jesus warned us in Matthew and Luke that these days would come and explained that it would be the start of birth pangs for the day of sorrow, the tribulation that is to come upon the whole world. It would seem that the day of the Lord approaches, and although the term "end of the age" has been thrown around since the disciples walked the earth, there is particular need for us not get blasé but more and more to look up as our salvation draws nigh.

Church this is the time that we should, as the children of God, rise together and do what the bible tells us to do. This is the time, like never before, to humble ourselves, seek God's face and pray for the nations and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the people of the world. This is the time that we should encourage each other, knowing that the days are dark and the love of many will grow cold with the increase of lawlessness that abounds. More and more the Church of the Living God needs to unite together and encourage each other to live for Jesus, to be the light, to stand for righteousness and intercede on behalf of all for God's mercy and grace.

We are living in days of fear, crippling fear, where the future is unpredictable and yet we can stay in peace, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."(2Ti 1:7) We know the One who holds our future securely in His Hands.

They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them. Psa 112:7

I would encourage you, if you are not committed to your local church, get committed. I would encourage you, if you are not reading the Word every day, begin to. Don't wait for disaster to strike before you go before God for help. The Word needs to be banked in your heart and soul so that the Holy Spirit can bring it to you at the appropriate times and keep your mind at peace. If you are not committed to Jesus, it's time to get committed. Don't sit on the fence any more, it's not just you and your families lives at stake, but others. Pray, pray and pray and no longer live for yourself.

Like all labour pains, they begin slow and come to a crescendo. This seems to be happening in the world, and I don't want to be a "prophet of doom", but we need to support each other, love each other and pray for the salvation of others like never before. Remember,

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Joh 3:16

Because He gave, we were saved. Let us now give our time, our talents, our love, our allegiance to our God so that others may hear about the Life and Hope we have in Him.

Hope in God

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 15:13)

Hope, what a powerful state of mind. Hope is what people need to navigate the ups and downs of life, yet so many live without hope in the world and so many souls are cut short by choice because of the feelings of hopelessness. Christians should be people of great faith and abounding hope.

Faith and hope are closely intertwined and are two sides of the same coin. When we have faith in God and His promises, hope rises in our hearts, even as an eagle rises up on the updrafts of the breeze, to soar into the future with confidence and joy. Life is out there to enjoy when hope fills a heart and so it is that our hope in God and His promises gives us light, bouncy steps, even in adversity.

Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your hearts, All you who hope in the LORD. (Psa 31:24)

I love the way that David, killer of giants, could pen so much about the hope in found in God, when so much of his life appeared to be in a state of hopelessness. Spending much time in the wilderness, running away from a king determined to kill this young, ruddy youngster who stood against and defeated Goliath, David sets his heart and eyes upon God. The giant who defied the whole army of Israelites and left them quaking in their boots, was killed by a young boy with a large heart of hope in God and a single stone flung from a child's sling.

Goliath had hope in his strength and height, and cocky he was too, but he was no match for the faith and hope in "the LIVING GOD" residing in the heart of this shepherd boy.

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name. Let your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, Just as we hope in You. (Psa 33:18-22)

What giants have you quaking in your shoes?

A marriage that seems hopeless?
A wayward child?
Financially broke?
Divorced?
Family who wants nothing to do with you?
Unsaved loved ones?

There is an answer in God for every one of these giants. Put your faith and hope in God and strengthen your heart in the fact that God is forever watching over you and He will never leave you nor forsake you, and if you listen to Him, He can change the outcome of every situation, and you will be able to say with confidence what David said:-

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the Help of His countenance. (Psa 42:5)

And, hope does not disappoint. (Rom 5:5)