hope

Hope – VOTD.06.19.18

“Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” Revelation 4:1

I’ve spent the past few weeks hiking… climbing mountains, enjoying magnificent views. How much more clearly we are able to see our surroundings when we’re standing on top of a mountain instead of hanging out in a valley. Metaphorically, God wants us to come up higher to where He is, so we can more fully see things the way He does.

Sometimes we feel discouraged or even let down by God. Many times, we can’t see the full picture of what God is doing in our lives because we aren’t able to see things from His perspective.

It’s easy to focus our attention downward at what’s wrong with our situations and circumstances. There’s nothing wrong with considering what’s going on around us, but if we’re not looking upward, we won’t have God’s perspective… seeing things the way He does.

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Ps 121:1,2)

Many of us are still living in the narrative of our past or trying to deal with our present struggles out of the perspective of our past storylines. God sees us in our painful situations, and He will not leave us alone. He hasn’t dropped us. God is for us. And if God is for us, who can be against us (Rom 8:31)?

After repeated losses, it’s easy to give up hope…to simply not want to continue hoping, only to be disappointed again. When that happens we need to intentionally choose to live each day with gratitude and joy. That puts us in a position to receive new things from the Lord…to walk in His plans of hope and a future (Jer 29:11)

Focusing on our loss keeps us so distracted that we can actually miss the blessings God is trying to release to us. (more…)

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Encouragement and Rest – VOTD.04.30.18

Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience. Hebrews 4:11

Rest is the tangible expression of Jesus’s intangible presence in our lives. Being a storehouse of His encouragement is the definitive consequence of Jesus in our lives. It is from that storehouse that we share Jesus’ encouragement with the people and situations around us. So that instead of putting on a false cheer, we actually have a peace and encouragement that overcomes the discouragement (un-encouragement) in the world around us.

We’ve been talking for the past few weeks about being an encourager—which the Bible calls us to be. It’s part of walking in the fullness of all that is life in Jesus. It’s an important ingredient in abundant living. And for most of us it takes effort because this fight is not with a conventional enemy; it’s opposing the force of discouragement that hounds us from all directions.

This negative force shows up in our lives in all shapes and forms: Unconstructiveness, discouragement, and disapproval. So it’s a matter of the heart and from there comes our demeanor—our attitudes and the atmosphere around us. And our words—emotions and thoughts lead to words and actions. (more…)

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The Power of the Resurrection – VOTD.03.27.18

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? John 11:23-26

Today’s verses expose a common limitation that we find even today about the resurrection of Jesus. When He said, “I am the Resurrection and the Life,” Martha immediately concluded that He was talking about heaven some day. And it wasn’t that she was wrong, but Jesus wanted to expand her understanding.

The Power of Jesus’ Resurrection is at work today: The Power of the Resurrection that is just as powerful now, as it was then, and when it will be through eternity. Yes, it’s what makes us Christians today. It’s the only reason that we can be Christians.

Power of the Resurrection is the SALVATION of Jesus.
· It’s the Power of the Resurrection that gives us Faith to call upon the name of Jesus.
· It’s the Power of the Resurrection that gives you and me the power to draw others into God’s Kingdom.

But what the Resurrection has given you and me is more than Salvation, as wonderful as that is. It’s more than the Saints being raised up in a cloud with Believers when the last trumpet sounds. The Power of the Resurrection isn’t a “thing” or a “force”. The power of Jesus’ resurrection is Love, Hope, Joy, Peace, Victory, and Freedom: (more…)

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Hope – VOTD.02.20.18

We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people – the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven.  Colossians 1:4,5

A couple of important points of today’s verse:

1) Our hope comes from Jesus (heaven), and that hope produces two essential Christian qualities: Faith and Love. That’s how essential hope is, and it’s why the enemy attacks hope far more often than faith or love, individually. It’s also why the enemy gets along just fine with optimism. It masks the need for faith-and-love-producing hope.

2) We need to take hold of hope: God gives hope and our hope is in Him. Hebrews tells us that “we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.” (Heb 6:18-20)

Sure, hope encourages us – it’s where we find Jesus’ strength and comfort. But hope also empowers us to seize what God has already determined to give us. Hope is the anchor which holds us to Jesus and His power. And notice this: It is hope that enters in to the mercy seat where Jesus is.

Which brings us to the difference between hope, and what often masquerades for hope: optimism. As we saw last time, hope is not some optimism trip or a mind over matter self-influence. Optimism and hope are not the same thing. The difference is this: optimism is inside of us; it rises from within us. It’s an attitude toward life that we choose, or maybe one we’re just born with or nurtured with.

However it got into us, optimism is internal, a personal disposition, part of our make-up… or not. But more to the point, if it’s something that’s just “in me,” it can fade away when life gets really tough. Or to use another image, it’s something like fuel that I have in my car’s gas tank. I can eventually run out of it. (more…)

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The Promises of God – VOTD.02.19.18

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him. (1 Jn 5:14)

Hope, peace, and joy are only a few of the promises of God to every believer. His promises are both universal and unique – That means He has promises that apply to all believers and He has promises that apply only to me or to you, individually. Either way, it is in these promises that we walk out our Christian journey.

But it’s important to understand that God’s promises are not always inevitable – We may or may not experience all that God has promised us. Yes, God always keeps His promises. But often, whether or not we experience the fulfillment of one or more of His promises depends on whether we receive it and act on it. God’s promises are more like an invitation that He wants us to agree to join Him in.

So God has given each one of us an invitation, but we still need to RSVP. For example, He promises us, “Open your mouth and I will fulfill it. And you will see. The words that you speak, so shall it be.” (Ps 81:10) Now, that’s a promise. He’ll give us what He wants us to say, and He’ll back up the Words He puts in our mouths. But it depends on whether our “mouths” – our appetites for Him – are open to receive how much of that promise we will experience in our lives.

The point is, when it comes to God’s promises to us, we’re not passive in receiving His promises. We are co-laborers with Him. He is the King and we are the bride and we are called to actively walk out the faith that He provides us and by that faith to walk in the promises He has made. (more…)

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Hope, Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit – VOTD.02.13.18

… so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

I want to tie up some loose ends today: The Holy Spirit is the one that produces His holiness in us as we walk in dependence on Him (Gal. 5:16-23; 1 Cor. 6:11). The Spirit opens our minds so that we can understand the truths of God’s Word (1 Cor. 2:9-13). These are some of our first baby steps in the Spirit.

The Spirit confirms our adoption as children of God and helps us as we struggle to pray (Rom. 8:15-17, 26). The Spirit strengthens us with power in the inner being so that Jesus dwells in our hearts through faith (Eph. 3:16-17). The Holy Spirit seals every believer so that we are kept for the day of redemption (Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30).

So it’s not surprising that as time goes by, we find that the Holy Spirit is the power who produces in us His fruit, like Peace and Joy as we trust in Him, so that we abound in Hope.

This requires a shifting in how we think – how you and I perceive reality. We’re either going to limit our thinking to the natural, living in that place of limitation, or we’re going to open ourselves to the Spirit and enter into a Joy and a Peace that culminates in a life-attitude of Hope. (more…)

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Hope, Peace and Joy in Troubled Times – VOTD.02.12.18

Everything we could ever need for life and complete devotion to God has already been deposited inside us by his divine power. For all this has been lavished upon us through the rich experience of knowing him … As a result, he has given us magnificent promises … so that through the power of these tremendous promises we can partner with the God’s own nature.  1 Peter 1:3-4

This may sound so obvious you’d wonder why I bother mentioning it at all. But there are far too many Christians who, when reminded that they are supposed to be walking in joy and peace and hope, feel a sort of despair, or else they feel a huge burden – “I know I’m supposed to be that way and I try and try.” So I think it’s worth mentioning the obvious.

If we want joy, peace, and hope, the way to get it is by prayer, seeking God, and worship. There is no formula that can compare with this because God is the God of Hope, He’s the God of Peace, He’s the God of Joy. Outside of Him, it’s practically cruel to expect ourselves to have any of these fruits (results) of the Holy Spirit’s presence.

But God promises us Hope, Peace, and Joy. And like all of God’s promises, they come by us focusing on Him: A lot of God’s promises are found right in the Bible. Write them down on a list or memorize them so you can recite them over and over…especially when you aren’t feeling very peaceful, joyful or hopeful. The point isn’t the method, it’s that we meditate on God’s promises and focus on Him and His promises often.

Secondly, we need to change our minds about joylessness, grumbling, complaining, hopelessness, and peacelessness. They are not just unfortunate, they make us miserable and miserable to be around. They are the prayer language of hell. They are accusations against our God that He’s doing a bad job. Rather than bringing us closer to Jesus, which is the solution to all of this, they drive us further away.

When we feel overwhelmed with despair or depression, we need to use that as our cue to talk ourselves toward hope: Tell yourself again and again to hope in God. The depressed psalmist did this repeatedly: (more…)

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Joy in the Wilderness – VOTD.02.06.18

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka (tears), they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength… For the Lord God is their sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from them… Psalm 84:5-11

Jesus is faithful. In fact, His name is “Faithful and True” (Rev 19:11). And He promises to withhold no good thing from us as we walk in communion with Him. For “the lovers of God who chase after righteousness,” Proverbs promises, “find all their dreams come true: an abundant life drenched with favor and a fountain that overflows with satisfaction” (21:2).

…But in the wildernesses of life (pilgrimage), when we’re stuck in the valley of tears (Baka), we can’t see how God will ever bring His promises to pass.  When we aren’t even certain we have a promise in the first place, it can be difficult to rest in Him, and find the joy of the Lord, even in our wilderness.

We all find ourselves in the valley of tears or sorrows. Yet God enables us in those times and place to dig deep springs in our wildernesses; and He fills our efforts with pools of water as we are energized by Him (from strength to strength). We find Him to be the Giver of good gifts (sun-the source of energy and warmth) as well as our shield (protector).

But too often our focus is in the wrong place – when we spin-in on all our troubles, we miss the joy that is in His presence. Maybe we neglect the opportunity to rejoice in Jesus because the atmosphere isn’t very conducive to being joyful. We don’t feel like it. But if keep putting it off until the promise is fulfilled, there’ll be another promise we need fulfilled just around the corner that we will wait for… and the result is that we’ll never find rest and we’ll never be joy-filled.

Joy in the wilderness requires faith in the Lord of the wilderness. Faith will always be needed as long as we live in this world where we face trouble, and we need to know how to be joyful and rest, even in our wildness. That joy and rest come from deeper communion with Jesus, rather than our finding solace in our immediate circumstances… to discover by experience that “in His presence there is fullness of joy” (Ps. 16:11). (more…)

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Confidence in the Wilderness – VOTD.02.05.18

Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:35-36

Last time we talked about the God of hope filling us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, so that we overflow with hope (Rom 15:13). Getting to know God and His ways builds trust and hope within us because we know Him personally, we know His character, we personally experience His love and care.

I sometimes call this experiencing Jesus first hand: Through the ups and downs of life, we grow in the knowledge and experience of His nature and character. By experiencing His grace over and over in all kinds of situations, He shows us what is really important, shifting our focus away from ourselves and our problems, desires, and priorities onto Him, His faithfulness, and His abundance.

And it is in this every-day experience – this receiving His comfort in the trials, his enablement to stand against certain defeat – walking with us through victories and setbacks (we don’t like setbacks, but He uses those, too), learning from experience “the secret of being content in any and every situation” whether in plenty or in need, that we can do all this through Him who gives us strength (Phil 4:12,13).

When our circumstances seem to be the opposite of God’s promises and hope is hard to find amid the distractions and bewilderment of loss and disappointment, desperation breeds further revelation of Jesus in us, the hope of glory (Col 1:27). The main and most foundational revelation that we need is finding Him not only as Lord and Savior but as our truest friend and bridegroom. Paul speaks of this in 2 Corinthians. In fixing our attention on Him, we are transformed into His image from glory to glory (3:18). (more…)

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Hope, Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit – VOTD.01.30.18

Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope! Romans 15:13

Today’s verse is what Paul prays for every believer to experience. When we read a verse like this, it can either fill us with excitement over what we have and the possibilities of where we can go from here, or it can be a bit daunting. “Does that verse even come close to describing me? Does my life is filled with all joy and peace in believing? Do I abound in hope?”

To varying degrees we all fall short of experiencing the uncontainable joy and perfect peace and life-radiating hope that Paul prays for each of us. But considering the dullness of many Christians’ faith-experience, it makes sense to seriously seek God to fill us with all joy and peace, so that we will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

So in a sense today’s verse is one of the most practical passages in the Bible for us all as we navigate life in a world where we are promised trouble (Jn 14:33). Firstly, if we face discouragement and disappointment, the place to go is God. He’s the source or supplier of hope. In fact, He is also the focus of our hope. Paul describes Him in 15:33 and 16:20 as “the God of peace.” He gives peace to His people. If we lack hope or peace or joy, the first place we should look for it in God, who is the source of all three.

Secondly, while the foundation for this abundant is hope found in Jesus, the structure of hope that is built on that foundation is being filled with all joy and peace. And Paul doesn’t pray that we will have a little bit of joy and peace trickling into our lives now and then. He piles up these superlatives to show us that God’s method of building on the foundation of hope is to fill us with all joy and peace so that we will abound in hope. (more…)

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