Abiding in Faith – My Daily Bread!

Repost of one of my favorites – rejoicing in knowing the Lord is near!

Our call to hope in the Lord is taken from 1 Tim 4: 9-10, NIV, which reads:

“This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive),   that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men and especially of those who believe.”

Hoping in the Lord is a full-time occupation for Christians who believe on His promises.  There is no time to let up; for our hope is what keeps our hearts quickened to continue in His will.  The Christian hope is not a wishy washy form of modern day optimism.   It is the basis for the faith that sustains God in us!

Hope is described as ‘to desire something with expectation of obtainment’.  This description hints at one unique characteristic of hope – future fulfillment.    Hope seems always about tomorrow.  But that is fine because we know that our God holds the future in His hands and therefore all our tomorrows.  Knowing this one fact alone lifts our hearts and gives us indescribable joy while we wait!

Another characteristic of hope is the notion of believing what we cannot see with our eyes.  This is the hardest thing to grasp for Christians at times when we are in the expectant mode.  So if you find yourself waiting on the Lord for something – waiting is just what He has in store for you to do!  But be of good courage Saints for God will not keep you waiting forever; He will answer you for He knows that “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”  (Proverbs 13:12, NIV)

I am reminded of the instance where the Prophet Elisha asked God to shore up the hope of his servant when they were surrounded by an army seeking to destroy them.  From his servants’ vantage points things looked hopeless and bleak; but God!    The story unfolds in 2 Kings 6: 15-17, NIV, which says:  “When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city.  Oh, my lord, what shall we do? The servant asked.  Don’t be afraid, the prophet answered.  Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.   And Elisha prayed, O Lord open his eyes so he may see.  Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

What an important lesson for us today!  We should never limit our God’s ability to work on our behalf to just what we can see.  God has unseen resources at His disposal to bring about what He desires for us in His will; yes even things that are not perceptible with our human eyes!  Elisha knew that ‘those who are with us’ out match what we are facing every time; we just need to ask God to open our literal and spiritual eyes that we might see!

Do you have something that you need to see through the eyes of the Living God?   Ask Him to show you His view of what is on the surrounding ‘hills’ that may be clouded due to fear.   Ask Him to increase your ability to keep hoping in Him even though the enemy sits camped all around.  For He is with Us and more than anything against us!

Prayer:  Lord, I hold onto your hand for I know there is no other.  I seek your wisdom because it is all I need.  Open my eyes that I might see you move on my behalf and grant me the peace and joy that only you can give.   For “no one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame”.  (Psalm 25:3, NIV)

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