Hope

The LORD reigns; Let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad! Psalm 97:1

 

Standing on the eve of a brand new year is always a time of wondering.  What will happen this year? Will it be better, or worse than last year? Will the world economy stand or fall? Is my employment secure?  Will my kids find work?  What do you want me to do this year Lord?

 

Psalm 97:1 answers the last question.  Rejoice.......because the Lord reigns!   As we review our own year past, the news we've watched that is often so depressing, perhaps the doctor's prognosis for ourselves or dear ones, it is so easy to become discouraged and depressed.  Yet the good news is, and always is, THE LORD REIGNS.  Therefore we can rejoice, no, we must rejoice, for we have HOPE.

 

Hope is the foundation of our faith; that God is faithful to keep His promises, that He is in control no matter what our circumstances look like. No matter what is happening in the world, God will have the final say.  He still reigns in the heavens and will reign on the earth.  We wait with hope; that is the challenge for this year.

 

Our world is a world in need of hope and if we Christians are hopeless we have nothing to offer our world. No matter what your circumstances are as we enter into this new year I challenge you to be be filled afresh with hope, for our God is the God of hope. In Romans 15:13 Paul prays that "the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the  Holy Spirit."  Believing in what? 

 

We are believing that He reigns, that He is our Saviour, that He will rescue us, that He will lead and guide us through this coming year as we invite him to do so. We believe that His word is true and He will do all that He has promised to do.We believe that the trials that come will make us stronger as we walk through them with Him beside us. 

 

And how do we become strong in believing?  By reading His word.  Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes by hearing the word of God."  Let's fill our hearts and minds with God's word so that we are filled with hope to offer to our world. 

 

Prayer:  Faithful God, help me this year to be filled with hope that can be shared with our needy world.  Help me to journey with you and be found faithful and faith-filled.  Amen