Who do you put your hope in?

For in You, O Lord, do I hope; You will answer, O Lord my God. Psalm 38:15 AMP

Today, some scriptures about hope - with the underlying questions - what or who are we putting our hope in?

And now, Lord, what do I wait for and expect? My hope and expectation are in You. Psalm 39:7 AMP

When we are waiting for something, it can be very difficult (an understatement) to keep wholeheartedly putting our hope in God.  Especially as time passes and we are still waiting.

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, my Help and my God. Psalm 42:5 AMP

Hope in God. How do you do that when all around you looks hopeless? For me, here are just some of the things I have done over the past 5.5 years to keep my hope in God, 

1. Reading God's promises over and over until they are a truth in my heart. 

2. Spending time worshiping God, pouring out my pain and letting His Spirit minister to me.

3. Putting a guard over my mouth and not speaking out the circumstances, rather speaking God's word.

4. Positioning myself (or rather let God position me) with people who speak faith and can 'hold my arms' up in times when I am weary.

5. Keep reminding myself of where my hope is - every-time those negative thoughts come - declaring it our loud ...

For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my trust from my youth and the source of my confidence. Psalm 71:5 AMP

Question for today, what is your hope in today? Are you having difficulty putting your hope in God? If so, why not ask Him to gently bring you to that place where you can fully hope in Him. Let Him be your guide, take time to listen and obey.

But as for me, I will look to the Lord and confident in Him I will keep watch; I will wait with hope and expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7 AMP

Our weaknesses

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. Romans 8:26-28 The Message

There have been many times in my life when I have been tired in the waiting. So tired that I didn't know what to pray. So grateful that other people were standing in the gap for me. And so grateful that God's Spirit was praying exactly what I needed to pray. What peace it brings to know that even when it comes to praying, we don't have to do it alone. Another version puts it this way,

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. Romans 8:26-27 NLT

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. Often the world today tells us to hide our weaknesses, don't let anyone see them. But that is not how our God works. No, He wants us to come to Him with our weaknesses. He wants us to acknowledge that we need Him. And why? Because when we say we need God, we are saying we can't do it alone, we need His wisdom, His grace, and we are letting the power of Christ work through us.

Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

If we keep trying to do it all ourselves, where is the room for Jesus in our lives? Where is the room for the Holy Spirit's leadings?

Questions for today, what are your weaknesses? Have you given them to God? Are you letting Him bring His grace and wisdom into those areas of your life? Sometimes pride and a lack of trust can stop us talking to God about our weaknesses, which is a bit funny if you think about it, as He knows everything about us anyway. Wherever you are at, today, let's take a step closer to Him in our areas of weakness, and acknowledge our complete need for Him.

But He said to me, My grace (My favour and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! 2 Corinthians 12:9 AMP

Tomorrow

So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is it own troubles. Matthew 6:34 AMP

This theme of 'not worrying about what will happen tomorrow' seems to be one God is continually working on in me. Each day something presents itself and I start to think, 'How are we going to fix that? What will happen tomorrow if this situation doesn't change?

And then when I sit and talk to God about it, He always reminds me, 'focus on today and use what is in your hands. I have got tomorrow covered.'

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things comes up when the time comes." Matthew 6:34 The Message

What an act of self-discipline it is to give your entire attention to what God is doing now. It takes a conscious decision to not go down the 'control' path or the 'worry' path. It is much better to go down the 'take it to God' path. Yes, it is a case of casting our cares and trusting God with every aspect of our lives, big and small. 

Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure everything out on your own. Listen for GOD's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Proverbs 3:5-6 The Message

It is a case of daring to believe that He cares so much about us that His grace is sufficient for whatever is going on. And regardless of how ill-equipped we feel.

And then he told me, My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. 

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 The Message

Question for today, what is concerning you right now? Whatever it is, it is not too big for God. He is the creator of the universe. His grace is sufficient for you, me and everyone else He created. Why not take time now to tell God about your concerns, and then leave them with Him, expectant that He will take care of them. And during the day, when the temptation comes to worry or be concerned again, remind yourself, 'No, I left that one with God today. I am waiting on Him'.

In Him we have ...

In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favour, which He lavished upon us in every kind of wisdom and understanding (practical insight and prudence), Ephesians 1:7-8 AMP

I am a bit of a 'list' person, so here is a list of what we have In Him, according to the above scriptures...

1. Redemption - deliverance and salvation

2. Forgiveness of our shortcomings and trespasses

3. His gracious favour

4. Every kind of wisdom and understanding

What a set of gifts to be given - eternal life, mercy, grace and everything we need to live our life here on earth as He intended. Don't you just want to stop and worship Jesus? Somehow saying 'thank you' seems so inadequate.

So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:6-8 NLT

Let's choose to have praise on our lips today, despite what is going on around us. 

Let's meditate on His Word and do everything in His Name.

Let the Word of Christ - the Message - have the run of your house. Give it plenty of room in  your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives - words, actions, whatever - be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Colossians 3:16-17 The Message

Jesus, we love You. We praise You. We give You our lives today.   Please help us to yield to all You want to do in us and through us today. Thank you Jesus. Amen

Applaud GOD!

On your feet now - applaud GOD!
Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence. 
Know this: GOD is God, and God, GOD.
He made us; we didn't make him.
We're his people, his well-tended sheep.
Enter with the password: "Thank you!"
Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
Thank him. Worship him.
For GOD is sheer beauty, all -generous in love, loyal always and ever.
Psalm 100 The Message

Three of our children received their school reports yesterday. As I read them, all I could do was say, 'Thank you God for your restoration in their lives. Thank you for bringing them through some very difficult times. Thank you that they are thriving, each in their own unique way. It is only by your grace. Thank you.'

Yes, it is easy to thank God when things in life is going well. But what about when they are not going well. How do you thank God when a doctor has just told you that 'There is a mass in your daughter's brain'? Well, for me, I couldn't thank God - not right then. 

Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMP

It took three days for me to come to a place where I could say thank you God - not for the tumour as that wasn't from Him - but thank you for all that He had done before that diagnosis - things that He had put in place to help us through those three days. Some of those things had seemed like just every day things, like just having done a lot of cooking so the freezer was full of food. Some were more a definite God intervention, like my Mother getting her passport back the day before we received the news about Victoria, so she was able to come over immediately from New Zealand. Some of them God had been working on for years, such as placing us in this neighbourhood, developing strategic friendships which would alert us to Victoria being unwell. 

He is a good God. There is always plenty to thank Him for.

I will thank You and confide in You forever, because You have done it [delivered me and kept me safe]. I will wait on, hope in and expect in Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your saints (Your kind and pious ones). Psalm 52:9 AMP

Question for today, when was the last time you took time to give God a heartfelt thanks for all He has done for you? If you are looking at your life and finding it difficult for something to thank God for, maybe start with the basics - a warm, dry home, running water, food to eat, the blessing of living in a country that isn't at war and lets not forget the biggie - eternal life - the promise of living forever with God in heaven because of what Jesus did for us. It doesn't take time for that Thank You list to grow. And then, in Godly confidence, thank Him for what He will do. 

And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. Colossians 3:15 AMP

Such hope

Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God's favour) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God. Romans 5:2 AMP

Through Jesus Christ we have access to God's favour. Here is how The Message version says it,

And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand - out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise. Romans 5:2 The Message

Can you picture yourself doing that this morning - out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting your praise? What does God's grace and glory look like to you? Are there areas in your life that you having difficulty seeing God's grace in? If so, ask Him to show you His grace. It is there.

Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. Romans 5:3 AMP

This is where that phrase 'count it all joy'  comes to mind. I remember a few years ago, when we were experiencing pressure, affliction and hardship simultaneously, I would get in the shower and say to myself, 'count it all joy Wendy'. Over and over again I would repeat it to myself. The children would be arguing in the midst of the turmoil, and again I would say to myself, 'count it all joy Wendy'. It would be good to be able to say that I was able to 'count it all joy' but that is not the truth. Even today, as I reflect on some of the those times, the tears still come. But amid the tears there is praise on my lips.

There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. Romans 5:3-4 The Message

Passionate patience - or as the Amplified version calls it - maturity of character.

And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Romans 5:4 AMP

Approved faith and tried integrity - unfortunately (but really fortunately) only comes through those times of having God as the only option. The times when were is no way, other than turning to Him and trusting that He will come through for you. Trusting and hoping that He has a plan and it is good.

Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. Romans 5:5 AMP

Do you really believe this verse? That hope in Jesus will never disappoint? That hope in Jesus will never delude us? That hope in Jesus will never shame us? I could suggest that you, ask God to help you come to a place where you can believe this, but I have a sense that that could involve unwittingly inviting one of those seasons of pressure, affliction and hardship into your life, so I will leave that up to a conversation between you and God. 

But if that season does come, these scriptures, Romans 5:2-5 are definitely good to have on your lips and in your heart.

In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary - we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! Romans 5:5 The Message

If you are in one of those challenging seasons now, can you close your eyes and see that for your life - you trying to round up enough containers to hold everything that God wants to give you, not even a stadium full of containers is enough - His love and favour for you is endless. He alone is our hope.

Not in your own strength

[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. Philippians 2:13 AMP

After a couple of days of fighting off a cold, and thinking this is just slowing me down at a time when there is so much to be done for our business at End of Financial Year, I open my Bible this morning and the above scripture is in the centre of the page. And there is the gentle whisper, "Not in your own strength Wendy, not in your own strength." Okay, I start to breath again, reminding myself, it is not about what I can do, but it is about what He can do through me - if I yield.

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]. Philippians 4:13 AMP

This day is the Lord's day. It is the day that He has made.

This is the day which the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 NLT

It is His day. We are His children. He has given us all we need for this day. He has given us enough time to do what He wants us to do today. He has given us the gifts and skills to do what He wants us to do today. He has surrounded us with the people that we need to do what He wants us to do today. He gives us the inner strength to do what He wants us to do today. 

Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. Philippians 4:13 The Message

Question for today, are you looking at your day thinking, 'How am I going to do this? How am I going to get this all done? What am I going to do about this situation?' 

If yes, then why not take the time to lay down your own plans for the day, and talk to God about His plans for your day. 

Ask Him the How and What questions. Ask Him to give you the priorities for the day, what does He want you to do when? 

And just remember to listen to what He says. I guarantee that if you do this, at the end of the day (which may not turn out as you had planned) you will be able to see that God's plan is always best.

What I'm getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you've been doing from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I'm separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure. Philippians 3:12-13 The Message