Hope

Written by Dorothy Brown

Come share in the excitement of the shepherds as they heard – a Savior has come! in our new advent interactive studies:
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by Gail Rodgers

Is your heart full of hope? What happens when hope grows dim and the road ahead is filled with loss or when stress weighs your shoulders down? When confident expectation in life’s tomorrow dwindles, what can you do? How can you walk in hope when you feel hopeless inside?

Hope in Jesus comes from more than just a belief that He was once a baby in a manger. This hope in Him has been called “an anchor for the soul.” It is something deep within that secures you through the storms of life. Putting your hope in Jesus will give you these four things.

• Hope for Help
We are invited to come to Him and confidently ask for help. Hebrews 4:16 tells us to “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in our time of need.???

• Hope to Overcome
Things that leave one feeling powerless and hopeless come in many forms. With Christ’s strength you can overcome great obstacles. 1 John 5:4 says, “and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.” Faith in Jesus gives help to overcome.

• Hope for Power
Sometimes in life we find ourselves with a task that simply looks too big for us. We do not just need a cup of God’s strength added to our own; rather we need His strength in us to do what we need to do. He will give it! 2 Corinthians12:9 says, “My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.??? Seeing our weakness as the entry point of God’s strength gives access to His power!

• Hope for Eternity
When we put our faith and hope in Jesus, it not only gives us help, strength and power where we walk today but it also gives us hope for life after death. It is a confident expectation of the ultimate “tomorrow.”

Dear God,
I have gone my own way and have put my hope in so many things that have disappointed me. Thank you that You sent Jesus, that first Christmas long ago, to be my Savior. I believe He came for me. Forgive me and come into my life today. Show me how to live in the confident expectation of how You can impact my life, my character and my circumstances. I place my hope in You right now and ask You to make Yourself known to me in my life right where I walk. I thank You. I pray this in the name of Jesus, amen.

About the Author
This devotional was written by Gail Rodgers. Learn more about Gail: http://www.talk.thelife.com/authors/gail-rodgers/

Going Deeper
1. Consider these questions: Is your heart full of hope? Explain. How can you walk in hope when you feel hopeless inside? When confident expectation in life’s tomorrow dwindles, what can you do?

2. Comment on the devotional blog. Interact with others who are reading today’s devotional. Visit http://talk.thelife.com/ and double click on “Comment??? (just under the devotional title).

3. Chat: Join us for a 15-minute chat at 10:30 am Eastern, 7:30 am Pacific: http://www.christianwomentoday.com/chat

4. Related reading
Would you give up your nest egg for a child? http://www.retirementwithapurpose.com/relationships/augvnstegg.html

Copyright
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5 Responses to “Hope”

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Pearl says:

December 19, 2006 at 7:27 pm

I really liked what Gail said–
Hope in Jesus comes from more than just a belief that He was once a baby in a manger. This hope in Him has been called “an anchor for the soul.??? It is something deep within that secures you through the storms of life.
Thank You Lord Jesus for being an anchor in my soul and securing me through the storms.
Thank you for everyone sharing at this website and the way it blesses us when we share together.
God Bless Everyone. Amen.
robyn says:

December 19, 2006 at 1:26 pm

Without hope you are nowhere as Chris has said. Life can be so hard financially, bringing up teenagers and general whats going to happen to day. At present here in Australia in Victoria there are fires. It really feels like the devil in full swing knowing his time in limited, close to the end. To have the hope in our lord Jesus and know that he has all things in control there in no need to worry. I feel so secure in my Lord that this Reading is what he places at my reach when Im troubled. John 14-27
Peace I leave with you,My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. That you for loving me always Dear Lord Jesus and Father God your are my peace and rock.
Francine says:

December 19, 2006 at 8:48 am

I come from a long line of worriers, voices of doom..
I’ve experience the feeling of hopelessness and fear, dread, and emptiness even as a Christian. It’s spiritual warfare everyday we wake, if it were not for Gods strength that gives me power I would have folded years ago…
I’m not perfect and I know I fall short of Gods Glory everyday, but I strive for perfection and that Hope that every Christmas brings gives me the strength, peace, hope, courage, and joy to keep getting up out of bed and coming to work, to work side by side with those who deny Christ, who do not know Christ. It’s difficult in todays society with laws and being politically correct, but Gods light hope and glory will shine through me without having to say a word! PRAISE GOD PRAISE JESUS not just at Christmas time but everyday!
Evelyn says:

December 19, 2006 at 7:22 am

Our hope indeed is in the risen Savior. Because He paid the penalty for our sins we will spend eternity with Him, which is our hope! We are just passing through this life on earth. Whatever circumstances we are in now are only temporary…PRAISE HIM. There is reason to rejoice every day!! Thank you Jesus.
Chris says:

December 19, 2006 at 6:47 am

With HOPE anything can be done. If it wasn’t for HOPE in OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST we would have nothing at all. I find personally if I don’t have hope there is NOTHING there at all. I would be worring about everything including where my next meal was coming from.
I THANK GOD EVERYDAY FOR THE HOPE AND BELIEF OF HIM AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.