Archive for Hope
Only Regard the Things that Matter
Posted by: | CommentsToo often, we go around regarding the things that don’t matter. We’re focused on the negatives instead of the positives. We’ve got our sights set on what’s going wrong, instead of what’s going right.
But that’s not what God wants us to do. He wants to prosper you. He has plans of a future full of hope in store for you. And when you regard the things and people who don’t matter, you’re giving your power to the wrong sources.
When you get a setback, instead of becoming sour, bitter, or defeated, take great pleasure in knowing that your outcome will be glorious. Delight in the fact that no matter what happens, the good or the bad, you’re going to come out triumphant and victorious.
If you get a bad break, don’t focus all your time, attention, and efforts on that one little disadvantage. No, take no regard for what’s worthless. If it’s not furthering you, don’t let it burden you. If you’ll take care of the business that matters, God will take care of the business that doesn’t matter. Set your expectations on the divine plan that God has for your life.
Photo by fictionalidentityIf a friend lets you down, if you’re rejected, wronged, insulted, persecuted, or forsaken, make a decision to put your expectations in the good that God has promised you. He’s promised you a bright future full of abundant life and hope. There’s a rainbow at the end of your storm.
I love how the Psalmist pleaded in Psalm 119:37. It says, “keep me from paying attention to what is worthless.” Remember Jesus says, “I have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” If it’s not bringing you life, disregard it. If someone lets you down or they bring sorrow to your Read More→
Dogs Always Get the Bad Name (but Even They Have Hope!)
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s easy to forget how much God really wants us to prosper. And from time to time you may feel like you’re getting the short end of the bargain.
You may even feel inadequate or less than mediocre. Maybe your dreams haven’t come to pass. Maybe you’ve been diagnosed with an illness. Maybe all your friends have left and you feel like you’ve been slighted.
When you’re faced with these let downs and disappointments, it’s easy to fall prey to the voice of the enemy. He may try to convince you that you’re scum, or that no one cares. You might as well just give up. But don’t tune into the voice of the enemy, tune into what God says about you. He says that you have hope.
I’m reminded of how dogs always get a bad name. For instance, when a woman meets a bad guy, or a jerk, she’ll go back and tell her girlfriends, “he’s nothing but a dirty dog.”
Another instance would be the story of the Gentile woman in Matthew 15:21-28. This woman came to Jesus wanting Jesus to heal her demon possessed daughter. Jesus replies, “it isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” But the woman Read More→
ShareGod Wants You to Prosper!
Posted by: | CommentsI truly believe, it’s the Lord’s desire for you to prosper in every area of your life. For many people, it’s easy to get bogged down by the conditions of the world: the down economy, earthquakes, diseases, famine, and poverty across the land.
And as “cheesy” or cliche as it may sound, things can always be worse. But the truth is, it’s by the mercy and grace of God that you and I still exist today. The good news is, God doesn’t want you to just exist or barely get by. No, He wants you to thrive!
You see, when you have the Lord’s salvation in your heart, everything else will fall in place. That’s not to say that it will always be easy. Or that good things will come at the drop of a hat. But if you remain faithful and follow His decrees, you’ll become prosperous.
You’ll have a sense of wholeness, peace, joy, and satisfaction. You’ll even come to find that other areas will fall in line. Your finances with come together, your Read More→
ShareYou Have Unlimited Lifelines!
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the greatest gifts we have in Christ is the gift of hope. It’s great to know that He’s not a God of a first, second, or third chance. He’s the God of unlimited chances!
You see, in the game of Baseball, you’re given three chances to make it across the home-plate. If you don’t make it to the home base without being kicked out, unfortunately, you’re without hope for that round.
But with God, you have unlimited lifelines. When it seems like you’re kicked out of the “game of life”, He gives you another chance to continue on with full hope. When it seems like you don’t know the answers, you can go to Him in prayer. There you will find the answer.
I think about the television game show, “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.” In that game, the contestants are given three lifelines. They can either choose to do a fifty-fifty, where the computer randomly eliminates two of the incorrect answers. They can choose to ask the audience. Or they can phone a friend. The thing is, after all three lifelines are used, and they’re still unsure about the answer, they’re without hope. They can either walk away or guess at the answer.
Well, with God, there is no limit on the lifeline. When it seems you’re Read More→
ShareLeave the Past in Your Blind-Spot
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the hardest things to do is let go of the past and embrace the future. Too many go around placing importance on past faults, failures, and hurts.
When you give too much power to your past, it can cause bitterness, loss of hope, and resentment. And when these things are allowed to take hold in your life, they cause a downward spiral of hurt and pain.
But I believe that it’s not God’s will for you to dwell on the past. He wants you to look toward the future with expectation. Even when you can’t see a promising future, God knows the future, and He has great things in store!
In Jeremiah 29:11, the Lord reminds you that He has plans to prosper you and not harm you. He has plans of hope and a future ahead for you. But in order to access that prosperity, you have to intently focus on your future.
I always say, when you look toward the future, your past becomes your blind-spot. You see, In your car, there’s a big windshield and a very small rear-view mirror. Why? Because where you’ve been is not nearly as important as where you’re going.
So here’s the thing- place the failures of your past in your blind-spot. In Read More→
ShareLook for the Silver Lining
Posted by: | CommentsYou’ve been given the amazing ability by the almighty God to triumph over the most adverse situations. But unfortunately, many have a tendency to dwell on the negative aspect in the obstacles of life.
The truth is, obstacles will always be present. But I want to encourage you to look for the silver lining in every adversity that you face.
Silver lining is simply defined as the consoling aspect in a difficult situation. And when you look for the silver lining, you’re choosing to let go of those negative defeating thoughts that tend to bring you down.
I heard an interesting fact about the eagle. Whenever it storms, they simply rise above the storm cloud and soar where the sun is shining.
My friends, just like the eagle, you should aspire to rise above the storms in your life. Look for the sun or the “silver lining” in your storm. You see, when you’re under the cloud, things look dark and cloudy. But if you’ll just rise above the storm cloud, you’ll discover that things aren’t as bad as they seem.
When you meditate on the good things in life and stay focused on them, there’s no room for negative defeating thoughts to enter your mind. I love how Philippians Read More→
ShareLook for Your “Suddenly Moment”
Posted by: | CommentsEveryone should be living a life full of hope and expectation. One of the most anticipating things about expecting a breakthrough, is not knowing when it’s going to happen. It can happen now, tomorrow, next month or next year. But rest assured, it will happen.
I like to call it a suddenly moment. Many times, whenever God performed a miracle in the Bible, the word “suddenly” appears. The good thing about that is, your “suddenly moment” can happen at anytime.
It happened with Paul and Silas, when they were in prison for preaching the good news about Christ. Acts 16:26 tells us that “suddenly” at midnight there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
There was a “suddenly moment” in Acts 9:3 with apostle Paul, on the road to Damascus, when he had an encounter with Jesus. Paul used to be a persecutor to the Christian church. But because of this “suddenly moment”, a miracle happened and Jesus birthed life and purpose into his future.
There was even a “suddenly moment” on the night of the greatest miracle known to man. In Luke 2:13, suddenly, there was a multitude of angels who announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds abiding in the field.
My friends, just like these amazing miracles, God is birthing suddenly moments into your life. Just when you think there is no hope, and your midnight hour has Read More→
ShareDon’t Let Go of Your Blessing!
Posted by: | CommentsDo you know that your blessing is already laid up in store for you? Many times, I believe God will put us through the test to determine if we’re ready to receive the promises He has in store for us.
The problem comes into play when we give up too soon on the blessing. Many times while waiting, we grow weary, impatient, we complain, we get bitter and we give up on the blessing. Instead of growing weary and letting the enemy steal what God has in store for you, make a decision to put up the good fight of faith.
Even in those times when it seems like nothing is giving, or it seems God has forgotten about His promise, know that in due time you’ll reap a harvest of blessing if you don’t give up.
There will be times when you have to put up a fight. The enemy will come at you in every way he can and cause you to throw in the towel. But don’t let go of your blessing.
I’m reminded of the story of Jacob and how he wrestled with God. The bible reports that Jacob wrestled with a man all night long until the break of dawn. When the Read More→
ShareEnlarge Your Hopes!
Posted by: | CommentsThere comes a point in life when our doubt level increases and our faith level decreases. When you ask a child what they want to be when they grow up, you’ll hear answers such as: a fireman, a doctor, a lawyer or a teacher. Some will even go as far as to say president of the United States. Oh, what it would be to have those ‘child-like’ hopes again.
But unfortunately, we lose that level of expectation that we once had. At some point in time, someone comes across our path and kills our hopes, dreams and expectations.
But I want to encourage you to hope again. Develop that same level of faith that you once had as a child. Don’t let doubt sink in. No, increase your level of belief.
The scripture says, “every man has been given a measure of faith.” If you knew the true power and potential you had at hand, you would be drawing up big plans. You’d be hoping and expecting big.
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” How can you have faith if you have no hope. Faith aids in making our hopes come to pass and hope gives us something to have believe in.
I heard someone say that faith in the unseen world is equivalent to money in the seen world. Imagine that someone just handed you a handful of cash and gave you Read More→
ShareHe’s A Very Present Help!
Posted by: | CommentsIsn’t it great to know that we serve a God who can be everything we need Him to be? No matter what your need is in life, God can supply all your needs.
Whether you are in trouble or you have a specific need, He comes to your aid just in time. Maybe you’re lacking moral support. He fills in the gap and meets your need in every area of your life.
I love how Psalm 46:1 says, “He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in the time of trouble.” Notice how the scripture says He’s a very present help. It doesn’t say He’s a past-time help. It doesn’t say He’s help to come in the future. No, it describes Him as a very present help.
That means He’s an on-time God. I heard someone say, “He may not come when you want Him, but He’s right on time.” Someone else said, “He steps in right in the nick of time!”
One interesting thing I found about the scripture is that the word “help” is a very general term. In other words, it doesn’t limit God to just one profession. No, it means He can be anything you need Him to be.
Throughout the scriptures, He’s described as many things. One scripture describes Him as a father to the fatherless. He can be a friend who sticks closer than Read More→
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