Tuesday, September 20, 2011

The Word of God-Hope


Remember Your word to Your servant; You have given me hope through it.  50  This is my comfort in my affliction: Your promise has given me life.  51  The arrogant constantly ridicule me, but I do not turn away from Your instruction.  52  LORD, I remember Your judgments from long ago and find comfort.  53  Rage seizes me because of the wicked who reject Your instruction.  54  Your statutes are the theme of my song during my earthly life.  55  Yahweh, I remember Your name in the night, and I obey Your instruction.  56  This is my practice: I obey Your precepts.” ~Psalms 119:49-56 HCSB  

Have you ever been hopeless?  You’re at the end of your rope and you don’t want to take another step.  How can we find peace in the midst of the storm?  Through the years I have suffered and I have been with those who are suffering.  I have prayed for God to ‘take away’ what was causing so much pain and yet a majority of times He does not.  When He doesn’t remove the source of pain we usually take one of two paths. We can say ‘there isn’t a God and even if there is a God, He doesn’t care.’  Thus bitterness seizes my heart.  Or I can turn to God for comfort and trust in Him.  

How can I get to the place where I trust God in all situations?  I don’t think it happens overnight, but over time.  It starts with reading the Word of God.  The psalmist reminds us we receive hope through the Word.  I can turn to God’s Word and believe it.  Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man who lies, or a son of man who changes His mind. Does He speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?” Knowing this about God I can take comfort in the Psalm 23:1”The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.”  God has a plan and purpose for your life. You are one of His children and He watches over you.  He tells us all things work to the good of those who love the Lord.  We can rest and find comfort in His Word, and we find guidance and trust.  God uses His Word to create in us a clean heart, useful for His glory.  As we learn more of His Word the closer we grow to God and the more we know of Him the greater his presence in our lives. He builds our trust for those times we need Him the most.  

Lord help us to read Your Word.  Burn in us a desire to know You deeper.  To grow in the knowledge of You, fill us with Your presence through the Holy Spirit.  Amen     

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