JOURALING ABOUT ETERNAL HOPE
Since my word for the year is HOPE, I decided to find ways to incorporate it into my morning time with the Lord. We have an eternal hope that never dies. In this post I share a glimpse of my daily devotion time with scripture, thoughts, and poems recorded in my journal. First, using the concordance at the back of my Bible, I look up references on hope. The first one listed is:
Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you. (Psalm 39:7 CSB)
Then, after reading it, I wrote the verse in my journal, then composed a haiku in response.
Lord, I am Your child My hope is in You alone For what do I wait?
Hope is woven throughout the Bible, a hope that is secure. This passage from the beginning of Titus shows us that God promised the hope of eternal life before time began :
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ,
for the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of
the truth that leads to godliness, in the hope of eternal life,
that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.
(Titus 1:1-2 CSB)
A SURE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE
God did not suddenly decide to offer hope and rescue us. No, He determined His plan before the beginning of time as we know it. Nothing will thwart His purposes. Before we were even born, God thought of and decided how to bring about this eternal hope.
This hope of eternal life is a sure hope, secured by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The guarantee of this hope is sealed by the Holy Spirit, who lives within all who believe in God through Christ.
For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Christ has redeemed me From an empty way of life With His precious blood Through Christ I believe My faith and hope secure in God who cannot lie
PRAYER
Dear God,
Thank you that because of Christ’s death and resurrection, our hope of eternal life is a sure hope, not wishful thinking. Thank You for making me Your child. May I be aware of You throughout the day as I pause to pray and offer thanks. May my life be a light pointing others to You and offering comfort and encouragement. Amen.
I’m linking up with: Lisa Burgess at the March One Word LinkUp
Dear Gayl,
I love your Haiku! They beautifully express the Scriptures about hope. I was so moved as I read your words, thinking of how we no longer live in an empty way of life, because HIS redemption has brought us into His own eternal hope! Blessings, love, and hugs to you my dear poet/sister/friend! Xo
Thank you so much, dear Bettie! It’s true our lives can never be empty when we are in Christ, and our lives are so full of meaning. Blessings, love and hugs to you, too my dear poet/sister/friend! xoxo
Amen. Our hope is found in Him.
Thanks for commenting, Melissa! Yes, our hope is in Him alone. Blessings to you! xo
This reminds me of the old hymn, The Solid Rock which says, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.” The chorus says, ” On Christ the solid Rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.” There 3 more verses to this great old hymn that are also wonderful, but it just expresses perfectly to me that our hope must be in Christ alone. For this is the only hope which is sure and solid, and we know that no matter what happens, our hope is sure and true. I thank you Gayl for pointing us in the direction of the solid Rock. May God bless you always💖🙏‼️
Terry, that is one of my favorite hymns! Yes, in Christ alone is our hope and strength. Blessings to you! xo
A wonderful definition of hope, Gayl, “This hope is based on God’s Word and guaranteed by the Resurrection of Jesus.”
Thank you, Lisa! Yes, our SURE hope! Blessings to you!
Hope is a BIG little word so you’re going to have your hands full! Thanks for the haiku!
You are so right, Michele! It’s a VERY BIG little word. Blessings to you!
I love your creativity and your intentionality as you focus on Hope, Gayl. Thanks for sharing a bit of how you do it. It’s a good plan for all of us!
Thank you so much, dear Lisa! I am really looking for more ways to remember my word this year and make it a strong part of my life. Blessings to you! xoxo
Reading this again, I am renewed with HOPE through your exploration!
Thank you so much, Barb! I am glad you were encouraged with HOPE again. Blessings to you! Have a blessed week!