Post by Betty on Apr 8, 2005 4:12:28 GMT -5
Title: A Living Hope
Read Psalm 39:7-l3
David asked, "And now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in You" (v. 7). That's a good
question. What are you waiting for? And how can
you be sure that what you're waiting for is going
to come?
David said his hope was in the Lord. Biblical
hope means confidence in the future. It's a
confidence born of faith. Faith, hope and love go
together (I Cor. 13). When we have faith in God,
we claim His promises, and they give us hope for
the future. Hope for the Christian is not a
feeling of "I hope it's going to happen." It's
exciting expectancy because God controls the
future. When Jesus Christ is your Savior and your
Lord, the future is your friend. You don't have
to worry.
Why is this hope so important? When we lose hope,
we lose joy in the present because we have no
confidence for the future. I have been in
hospital rooms when the surgeon has walked in and
said to a patient's loved ones, "I'm sorry. We
did the best we could. There is no hope." The
faces of the loved ones fall. Sadness fills the
room. We live on hope; it springs eternal in the
human breast. But it's more than a feeling down
inside; it's a confidence that God is in control,
and we have nothing to fear.
What is the basis for our hope? It is the
character of God. We've been born again unto a
living hope (I Pet. 1:3). It's not a dead hope
that rots and falls apart but a living hope whose
roots go deeper and whose fruits grow more
wonderful. You can have joy, confidence,
encouragement and excitement today if you will
remember that you have a living hope.
Your hope for the future is founded in the
promises of God's Word. Do you have confidence in
the future? Make a mental list of His provision
on your behalf during the past year--answered
prayers, met needs and other blessings. God's
faithfulness in keeping His promises in the past
gives you confident hope for the future.
_____________________________________________
Author: Warren Wiersbe
Read Psalm 39:7-l3
David asked, "And now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in You" (v. 7). That's a good
question. What are you waiting for? And how can
you be sure that what you're waiting for is going
to come?
David said his hope was in the Lord. Biblical
hope means confidence in the future. It's a
confidence born of faith. Faith, hope and love go
together (I Cor. 13). When we have faith in God,
we claim His promises, and they give us hope for
the future. Hope for the Christian is not a
feeling of "I hope it's going to happen." It's
exciting expectancy because God controls the
future. When Jesus Christ is your Savior and your
Lord, the future is your friend. You don't have
to worry.
Why is this hope so important? When we lose hope,
we lose joy in the present because we have no
confidence for the future. I have been in
hospital rooms when the surgeon has walked in and
said to a patient's loved ones, "I'm sorry. We
did the best we could. There is no hope." The
faces of the loved ones fall. Sadness fills the
room. We live on hope; it springs eternal in the
human breast. But it's more than a feeling down
inside; it's a confidence that God is in control,
and we have nothing to fear.
What is the basis for our hope? It is the
character of God. We've been born again unto a
living hope (I Pet. 1:3). It's not a dead hope
that rots and falls apart but a living hope whose
roots go deeper and whose fruits grow more
wonderful. You can have joy, confidence,
encouragement and excitement today if you will
remember that you have a living hope.
Your hope for the future is founded in the
promises of God's Word. Do you have confidence in
the future? Make a mental list of His provision
on your behalf during the past year--answered
prayers, met needs and other blessings. God's
faithfulness in keeping His promises in the past
gives you confident hope for the future.
_____________________________________________
Author: Warren Wiersbe
