31 Days of Joy: Have Hope

“Once you choose hope, anything is possible.”

― Unknown

Have hope.

What if everything you ever wanted just happened the way you planned? Biblical hope is a sure foundation upon which we base our lives, believing that God always keeps His promises. Without hope we would never fully trust in God with all our hearts. House alarms, security guards, and metal detectors offer some hope for protection against crime. The eternal hope in Christ means that you’re completely secure in God’s hand in this world, and in heaven. When the storms of life are raging, your anchor is the hope that God is in control. Because of our hope in the blood of Jesus, believers don’t have to worry about the shame of our sins. We confess our sins and are covered by His sacrifice. Christians can come boldly to the throne of grace and seek God’s help because of hope. In the darkest hours and the deepest pain, we can still have hope. Believers in Jesus Christ can praise Him even when everything around them looks bad. Our hope in God reveals that He is in control and He uses everything for our good. The demands of this life can beat us down spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Yet remembering the hope we have in Christ to overcome evil with good, to bless and not curse, and to draw on give us joy in Him. God's Word gives us renewed energy to face the world.

Focus Scriptures:

Psalm 33:22

May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 62:5

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.

Psalm 119:114

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.

Lamentations 3:21-22

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

Psalm 25:3

No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame.

Joy in Action Today: 

Write down today's focus scriptures. Recite them aloud. Whenever you start to lose hope, or feel completely  hopeless, go back to reading your scriptures, and think about them. What is each scripture trying to tell you?