Hope

The dictionary defines the word "hope" as: 1. the general feeling that some desire will be fulfilled 2. promise: grounds for feeling hopeful about the future.

One of the greates gifts of being a Christian is hope.

God has a plan and a purpose for our future and knowing that gives us hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

When life becomes more than we can handle, we can have hope that God will get us through.
1 Timothy 5:5 - The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.
2 Corinthians 1:10 - He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,

And when this life ends we have hope in eternal life!
Titus 3:7 - so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Peter 1:3 - ... In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Strength

Sometimes spiritual battles can just seem so overwhelming. Have you ever just felt so weak and powerless? At times it may even seem like you are losing the fight! But I have good news...God gives us strength and we will be more than victorious!

Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak

Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on the wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint

Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand

Psalm 18:32-34 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

What can we do with God's strength? Run and not grow weary, stand on heights, and bend a bow of bronze! Actually we can do a whole lot more with God's strength:

Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength

There is no battle to big for God! He can get us through any obstacle that life may throw at us.

You are Valuable!

To those of us who believe in God, we know how valuable He is. But did you ever wonder what we are to Him? I mean after all we are just plain old humans! Compared to God we are like insignificant, disgusting fleas. But the Bible shows us that God values us despite all of our shortcommings!

Luke 12:7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

I am a mom and I love my children very much and I value them more than all the jewels in the world, but even I do not know how many hairs they have on their head!

One famous verse of the Bible is John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Do you know that God loves you? Satan will do everything in his power to make you feel worthless and unloveable. Don't let him win! Realize the truth and stand firm on it!

True Beauty

Everywhere you look there are advertisements for things to make you look better; weight loss supliments, plastic surgeries, special make up and clothes. Our society is so focused on outward appearance! No wonder so many women have confidence issues!

I am sure you have heard the phrase "True beauty comes from the inside", but did you know that this is also a biblical principal? God does not even look at us the way that we look at ourselves:

1 Samuel 16:7 - "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

Peter 3:4 You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

So the next time you are standing in front of the mirror, take a minute to examine your heart instead of your hair. Do you have that gentle and quiet spirit or have you been spreading rumors and talking badly about people behind their backs?

Nothing to Fear

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. (Psalm 27: 1, 3)

Oh how I long for this confidence! To trust in the Lord so completely that I would not fear anything, even an entire army rising up against me. Why don't I have this confidence? I know that God is bigger than anything that I might come against and yet I still struggle with worrying about silly things and being afraid.

I think maybe it comes down to this Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6) I do try to lean on my own understanding. It is almost like I see God as this puzzle and all I need to do is figure out where all the pieces fit. But the problem is that God can't fit in a nice, neat puzzle box and there is no way that I will ever be able to figure out where the pieces go.

I am thankful that God is patient with me! I know faith is a journey and I pray that someday I may have this confidence.

God is in Control!

I feel like my life is a rollercoaster ride right now. There are so many ups and downs and twisty corners being thrown at me. Praise God that I know that He is in control of this crazy ride. I can't imagine going through these times without that comforting knowledge.

"It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:8

Not only is God in control, He goes before us and prepares the way for our journey! How amazing is that!

I think the hardest part is just trusting Him and letting go of wanting to control everything ourselves. Especially for an OCD, type A person, like me : )