Posts Tagged ‘ Hope ’
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Romans 8:37 ESV
Do not be deceived.
We are not promised victory in all of our endeavors. We are promised victory over sin, sadness, and unforgiveness and fear as we encounter temptation, troubles, and persecution.
But you, O Lord , are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
Psalm 3:3, ESV
Our Lord is our ultimate protector and source of all joy and hope. Without Him, we have nothing and amount to nothing.
Only when we enter eternity do we fully realize the Prize He is for us and how He has saved us.
so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Hebrews 9:28, ESV
The next time Christ comes, we shall remain with Him forever.
It will not be so nice for everyone else.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Psalm 42:11, ESV
Praising God is the best way to get out of a funk of depression, worry/anxiety, confusion, and fear.
Hope in God, your salvation.
We continue looking at hymns and songs that impacted my spiritual life – with yet another reminder to check out the other blog I contribute to, ProverbialThought.com, and the daily thoughts on the Bible (specifically Proverbs) – with another song (that flows out of last week’s hymns.)
O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works Thy hand hath made.
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.Refrain:
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou artWhen through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:
(Repeat Refrain.)And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:
(Repeat Refrain.)When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!
(Repeat Refrain.)
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul!”Refrain:
It is well with my soul!
It is well, it is well with my soul!Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
(Repeat refrain)My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought—
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to His Cross, and I bear it no more;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
(Repeat refrain)For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live;
If dark hours about me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
(Repeat refrain)
On April 1, 2014, of all days (April Fools’ Day), my mom was diagnosed with terminal Stage-4 Lung Cancer (she succumbed a mere four months and eleven days later). I got the call while driving from work to class at the seminary. The first student to preach in class that day also happened to offer the opening prayer for class with a singing of the hymn “How Great Thou Art”.
It was exactly what I needed. To worship the One in control who took my mom home to be with Him. It is this knowledge – that God is all-powerful, sovereign, loving, and saved us through His Son – that frees me to then turn around in any circumstance, including seeing my mom die of cancer, and sing “It is well with my soul.”
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7, ESV
We struggle sometimes (or, for some, all the time) in this life. Let the One who created and then died for you bear that burden.
It may not go away, but it just might feel lighter to you as He lifts it onto His shoulders and walks with you.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:5, ESV
Sometimes it can feel like evil is winning.
We must remember that Christ Jesus has already won the day, through the cross. He is returning one day to vanquish evil and darkness once and for all!
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord , plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11, ESV
Do not be uninformed: this is a promise that suffering and pain will come, but there is hope for future good.
Ultimately, this promise falls to Christians awaiting eternity with Christ.
“. . . and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:32, ESV
Jesus is the truth. True freedom is knowing, believing in, and trusting Him.
Ultimately, freedom is from sin and fully realized in eternity.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:2, ESV
Our Rock is Christ, our solid foundation that holds steady when life gets shaky and hard. He sustains and lifts us through it all.
a simple man of God 