HOPE – Hold On (through) Prayer Everyday

Scripture:  “…rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;” Romans 12:12 NKJV
“He then told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged:” Luke 18:1 HCSB
 
“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. On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand; ALL other ground is sinking sand!”

What do you look to for hope? Who do you look to? Things? People?? What happens when those people and those things fail you? What if what ‘they’ said or told you would happen doesn’t?? Every time we trust in anyone or anything but God, we set ourselves up for disappointment.

We can talk to people but we shouldn’t pray to them. They can’t give us the answers we are looking for. We can buy things but those things can’t make all our troubles, sorrows, hurts and pain go away. They may give us temporary happiness, but it doesn’t last. The only never-changing constant that’s involved with each detail of our lives is the one, true God! He is the One who can look beyond our faults with unconditional love and see our need for Him!

When we pray, we are actively communicating with God. Our hearts should be open to Him – exposing ourselves so that we can be honest and transparent (He already knows what’s going on with us anyway…) and so that we can be in a place to hear from Him. Yeah, prayer works both ways! We talk and He listens. He talks and we (should) listen.

Just knowing that our Heavenly Father takes the time to hear our heart’s cry settles my spirit. I can be so distracted that I don’t even take the time to tell Him ‘thank You’ … for anything! It doesn’t have to be anything big – just the fact that He woke me up this morning; for His Love; for life, health and strength; for food, shelter and clothing … the list is endless! No matter what my current situation is/circumstances are, there is always something I can be thankful for! Because of Him, I will always have HOPE!!

So each day that God grants us to be alive, we should thank Him and praise Him! Not just for what He does for us but simply for Who He is!! There is truly NONE like Him, no not one! Who else can we go to with any and everything that’s on our hearts and minds and know that He won’t just say what He will do but He will actually do it! He will indeed move, in His own way, in His time! But we can be hopeful because He has never broken a promise to us … NEVER! Even when things don’t go the way we want them to go, He is faithful! When we can’t see His hand, we can trust His heart. He has our best interests at heart, and He cares for us!! His Word says so! Read 1 Peter 5:7 

Prayer: Father God, THANK YOU!! You loved us so much that You sent Your one and only begotten Son to die on the Cross for the sins of the whole world! But You didn’t stop there … You gave us Your Holy Spirit, a piece of Your very being, and placed Yourself in us! That means You are always with us – You never leave or forsake us! Your mercies prevent us from being consumed! They are new EVERY morning! Therefore, we have HOPE! THANK YOU for being our hope! Thank You that we can come to You with anything. We can trust that You hear us, and You will act!! In Jesus’ Name we always pray, AMEN!!

(by Casey Turner)