Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Do you have hope?

During my Bible study times lately I've been reading lots about hope. It's easy to put our hope in other sources, but ultimately God is the one with the master plan. I'm noticing that many times when hope is mentioned trust has either just been mentioned or is about to be! So I'm concluding that hope, trust, and faith are all tied together. If I was a deep thinker I'd probably be able to give a profound explanation of how they all fit together, but so far I'm still in study mode. (If I get that profound explanation, I'll post. If you already know, please comment and share!!!)

I do know that right now I find myself in a place of hoping and waiting again. There are actually a couple of huge things I'm hoping and praying for. For myself and for others. I'm applying Philippians 4:6-7 to these situations. I'm presenting them to God and I know that He will guard my heart and mind so that I can sit back and trust Him for whatever the outcomes may be!

Somehow I think hoping is the human component, trust is the relationship component, and faith is the spiritual component, but I DON'T KNOW, yet!

Here are some of the hope scriptures that I have been encouraged by so far:

Psalm 25: 1-4
UNTO YOU, O Lord, do I bring my life.
O my God, I trust, lean on, rely on, and am confident in You. Let me not be put to shame or [my hope in You] be disappointed; let not my enemies triumph over me.
Yes, let none who trust and wait hopefully and look for You be put to shame or be disappointed; let them be ashamed who forsake the right or deal treacherously without cause.
Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths.


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

Psalm 31:1 & 24
IN YOU, O Lord, do I put my trust and seek refuge; let me never be put to shame or [have my hope in You] disappointed; deliver me in Your righteousness!
Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord!


Psalm 33:18-22 (If you have time, read this whole Psalm, it is AWESOME!)
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.
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.


These are just a few of the times that trusting, hoping, waiting, expecting are mentioned. WOW! I'm just so glad that we have these encouraging words to read. I pray that whatever situation you are trusting, hoping, and waiting for will work out according to God's plan for you. I hope that whatever the outcome may be that you will put your total trust in Him to work in your life (and let Him work). It is so much easier to sit back and let Him work than to buck the system and kick and scream, and worry the whole time! :) He is faithful, good, loving, and kind! There may be no other person that you can run to, but know that God is there waiting to take care of whatever you need! Just like the writer said "UNTO YOU, O Lord, do I bring my life." Bring Him your life today and enjoy His peace and love.

Have a great week!!
Dina

No comments: