Cherish Hope

For whatever was thus written in former days was written for our instruction, that by [our steadfast and patient] endurance and the encouragement [drawn] from the Scriptures we might hold fast to and cherish hope. Romans 15:4 AMP

Cherish hope. As I read those two words, I felt the Holy Spirit say, 'Don't underestimate the hope that you have, and more importantly, don't underestimate Who you have put your hope in.'

And further Isaiah says, There shall be a Sprout from the Root of Jesse, He Who rises to rule over the Gentile; in Him shall the Gentiles hope. Romans 15:12 AMP

The Who, The Sprout of the Root of Jesse, the One I choose to put my hope in, is Jesus Christ. When everything seems to be falling apart, and the options are narrowing, for me, there is only one place to go. Only one 'place' that offers real hope. Only one 'place' that I know my hope will be met, and most often 'more than met.' That 'place' is Jesus.

So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word. Hebrews 10:23 AMP

Question for today, are you looking at a circumstance in or around your life and feeling hopeless? Today, make a decision to put your hope in Jesus. 

But this I recall and therefore have I hope and expectation: It is because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness. The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him. The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him [inquire of and for Him and require Him by right of necessity and on the authority of God's word]. It is good that one should hope in and wait quietly for the salvation (the safety and ease) of the Lord. Lamentations 3:21-26 AMP

Cherish hope.

My inner self

I said, Lord, be merciful and gracious to me; heal my inner self, for I have sinned against You. Psalm 41:4 AMP

Every day I sin against God. I think, say or do things that are outside of God's will for my life. My inner self has it's own thoughts on how I should conduct myself, mostly driven from a need of self-preservation, pride and plain selfishness.  So often I need to tell my inner-self God's truth and bring it back into line, just as David did in the Psalms.

Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my [sad] countenance, and my God. Psalm 43:5 AMP

At these times, when I remind my inner-self of who God is, and my right-standing with God through Jesus, a change takes place within me. My inner-self shifts from a focus of 'me, me, me' to a focus on God.

O GOD, You are my God, earnestly will I seek You; my inner self thirsts for You, my flesh longs and is faint for You, in a dry  and weary land where no water is. Psalm 63:1 AMP

A hunger and desire builds within me. A hunger for His word and truth. A desire to worship the Almighty God with all my heart and soul. In response, God strengthens my inner self. 

In the day when I called, You answered me; and You strengthened me with strength (might and inflexibility to temptation) in my inner self. Psalm 138:3 AMP

From that strengthening comes, my inner self lets go of the need for self-preservation. It humbles itself and moves to a more self-less position. I am then able to shift my focus from myself to God, I am able to move forward in God, and His plan for me. I am able to look outwards and be a blessing to others. Thank you Jesus for your mercy and grace.

Question for today, what is your inner self focused on? Do you need to speak to your inner self, reminding it of God's truth, as I so often need to do? If so, seek out the scriptures that will remind the inner self of where it's focus needs to be. As with me, this may well need to be a daily task of renewal. Don't be discouraged, God wants to work with us to keep our inner self focused solely on Him.

Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day. For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!], Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are visible are deathless and everlasting. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 AMP

Inexpressible and glorious joy

Without having seen Him, you love Him; though you do not [even] now see Him, you believe in Him and exult and thrill with inexpressible and glorious (triumphant, heavenly) joy. 1 Peter 1:8 AMP

When you think about Jesus, what emotions do you feel? Do you feel the inexpressible and glorious joy, that the above scripture talks about? For me, when I take time to be still and really think about who Jesus is and what He has done for me, a deep love wells up in my heart, and I feel completely overcome with the grace He has shown me. The gift of salvation He has given me so freely, that I did not deserve.

You must know (recognize) that you were redeemed (ransomed) from the useless (fruitless) way of living inherited by tradition from [your] forefathers, not with corruptible things [such as] silver and gold, But [you were purchased] with the precious blood of Christ (the Messiah), like that of a [sacrificial] lamb without blemish or spot. 1 Peter 1:18-19 AMP

Accepting Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, started me on a journey of discovering who I am and my purpose on this earth.  A journey of learning how to live in peace despite my circumstances. A journey of understanding that I am loved despite my inadequacies and failings. A journey of recognising God's is always with me. A journey of so much more than I can express here.

Question for today, When you hear the name Jesus, what do you feel? What has accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour meant to you? What journey have you been on with Jesus? What victories have you seen in your life since becoming a Christian? Take time today to thank Jesus and tell Jesus how you really feel about Him.

You have been regenerated (born again), not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm), but from one that is immortal by the ever living and lasting Word of God. For all flesh (mankind) is like grass, and all its glory (honor) like [the] flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower drops off, but the Word of the Lord (divine instruction, the Gospel) endures forever. And this Word is the good news which was preached to you. 1 Peter 1:23-25 AMP

An acceptable and opportune time

But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord. At an acceptable and opportune time, O God, in the multitude of Your mercy and the abundance of Your loving-kindness hear me, and in the truth and faithfulness of Your salvation answer me. Psalm 69:13 AMP

We pray. We want an answer. Now. Sometimes it can be very difficult when the answer doesn't come in the 'now' and we have to wait for God's acceptable and opportune timing. What can we do while we wait?

Here are some of the things David did while he waited for God's answers.

David asks God to guide him in His truth and faithfulness.

Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You [You only and altogether] do I wait [expectantly] all the day long. Psalm 25:5 AMP

It may well be that in that time waiting and continually seeking God's guiding and teaching,  your prayer, or the heart motive behind your prayer changes.

David also encourages us to wait with bravery and courage. 

Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart by stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord. Psalm 27:14 AMP

Today, for me, in my waiting, I am not feeling particularly brave and certainly not of good courage. Today, my ability to endure is waning. It is times like this that I need to go back to the prior verse, Psalm 27:13

[What, would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living!

I have to be purposeful in taking all those fearful thoughts captive and remember all the acceptable and opportune answers to prayer God has provided in the past. I have to remind myself that

Behold, the Lord's eye is upon those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe], who wait for Him and hope in His mercy and loving-kindness, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. Our inner selves wait [earnestly] for the Lord; He is our Help and our Shield. Psalm 33:18-20 AMP

Today, if there is something that you have prayed for and are still waiting for the answer to manifest, why not ask God to guide and teach you during the waiting? Ask God to show you what it is He wants you to learn between now and the acceptable and opportune time when the answer comes. Ask Him to give you the bravery and courage you need during this waiting time. Thank God for the mercy and loving-kindness He has shown us all, the sinners, through the salvation He freely gives us through Jesus. A truly acceptable and opportune answer to our prayers.

For in Him does our heart rejoice, because we have trusted (relied on and been confident) in His holy name. Let your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, in proportion to our waiting and hoping for You. Psalm 33:21-22 AMP

Hear His voice

O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker [in reverent praise and supplication]. For He is our God and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts as a Meribah and as at Massah in the day of temptation in the wilderness, when your fathers tried My patience and tested Me, proved Me, and saw My work [of judgement]. Psalm 95:6-9 AMP

A simple question for today, 'Whose voice are you listening to?' Are you listening to the voices of the world promoting overwhelming negativity, hopelessness and fear mongering ? Or are you listening to the voice of the Good Shepherd, Jesus. The voice of overwhelming hope, love and peace.

The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they know Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish through the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed]. And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand. John 10:27-28 AMP

Today, let's make a choice to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd. Let His voice be loudest in your head. Let our thoughts, words and actions be guided completely by His voice. Jesus, please help us today to hear and obey your voice.

I am able to do nothing from Myself [independently, of My own accord - but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders]. Even as I hear, I judge [I decide as I am bidden to decide. As the voice comes to Me, so I give a decision], and My judgement is right (just, righteous), because I do not seek or consult My own will [I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, My own aim, My own purpose] but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent me. John 5:30 AMP

The ways of the Lord

Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of the Lord are right and the [uncompromisingly] just shall walk in them, but transgressors shall stumble and fall in them. Hosea 14:9 AMP

The ways of the Lord are right. Sometimes when things happen in our lives or around it us, it can be hard to acknowledge that. We need to be making every effort we to understand all we possibly can about God and who He is. The Message Bible puts it this way.

If you want to live well, make sure you understand all of this. If you know what's good for you, you'll learn this inside and out. GOD's paths get you where you want to go. Right-living people walk them easily; wrong-living people are always tripping and stumbling. Hosea 14:9 The Message

So how do we get understanding of the ways of the Lord? How do we learn this inside and out? We need to be making God and everything about Him, a priority in our lives. For me, this prioritisation is a constant battle, as there are so many other people and things calling for my time. I have had to learn how to put boundaries in place to ensure my day includes time to sit with God, learn about God and commune with God. This has not been easy for me, as I like to say 'yes' to people, rather than 'no'. I have had to learn to let go of needing the approval of people, and look completely to God for that approval. Some days I find I am still on that journey!

For they loved the approval and the praise and glory that come from men [instead of and] more than the glory that comes from God. [They valued their credit with men more than their credit with God.] John 12:43 AMP

Another thing I have been learning over the years, is that for me to be able to say 'yes' in a healthy way, I need to know the ways of the Lord, so I know what He wants me to say 'yes' to. And I can only know that by spending time with Him, making Him the 'number one' in my day. 

When I asked God what I needed to change in my life, to really make Him 'number one', He said, "Get up earlier (4am) and spend more time with me. Don't worry about getting through the rest of the day, I will sustain you, if you put me first."

So for the past 6 months that is what I have been doing most mornings. I didn't think it was possible, but in His strength it is. He has indeed sustained me. More importantly, my understanding of God and His ways has grown immensely. 

Question for today, how are you going in growing in your understanding of the ways of the Lord? If you think there is some adjustment required, ask God what He wants you to do change to help you understand more about Him. Be encouraged, God has a plan. Be brave, do what He says, and understanding will come.

And they sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb, saying, Mighty and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God the Omnipotent! Righteous (just) and true are Your ways, O Sovereign of the ages (King of the nations)! Revelation 15:3 AMP

Exposing and sifting

For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, naked and defenseless to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do. Hebrews 4:12-13 AMP

Earlier this week I was struggling with a situation. I didn't understand why I was having such a strong emotional reaction to the circumstance. My mind was trying to rationalise my feelings, but in my heart I knew my own wisdom was very insufficient and indeed my own conclusions were inaccurate. As it says in Proverbs,

The plans of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the Lord comes the [wise] answer to the tongue. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart). Proverbs 16:3 AMP

There was only one place to go to understand the root of my reaction. God. I needed to sit at the feet of Jesus, ask Him to show me what was the cause of my reaction, and wait until he He revealed the truth. I needed Him to expose the thoughts of my heart and help me to sift them. After all, only God knows everything about me.

O LORD, you have searched me [thoroughly] and have known me. You know my downsitting and my uprising; You understand my thought afar off. You sift and search out my path and my lying down, and You are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue [still unuttered], but, behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. Psalm 139:1-4 AMP

Sure enough, God exposed what was at the root of what I was feeling. He gave me a single word - abandonment. That word resonated completely with my heart. What joy I felt to finally know what was behind the seemingly uncontrollable emotional reaction I was experiencing. 

Immediately I was able to ask forgiveness for believing that I had been abandoned, and forgetting that even if I felt that someone had abandoned me, Jesus was always with me. Who is better to always have by your side, than Jesus? From that moment forward I was able to engage maturely in the situation, knowing that no matter what, God loved me and would never leave me nor forsake me.

Question for today, is there something in your life that you need help from God to expose and sift? Invite Him to show you what is the root cause of your actions / reactions. He knows you and loves you. He wants to see us mature and be transformed more and more into His image.

And all of us, as with unveiled face [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 AMP