I know it’s been a while, but this probably would be the last newsletter/podcast I’ll be sending this year. And I am glad I will be sharing this because I can’t think of a better message to pass on now, as God has laid in my heart.
A line in my 2024 mantra is, “I will hope in God, I will hope in God”. Yes, I wrote that twice, and I’m glad I did. I don’t get to say this to myself every day, but I have it by my wall, and when it seems hope is fading away, I can confess to myself, “I will hope in God, I will hope in God”. A common prayer relating to this, which I also pray often, is, “God, renew my hope”. In the end, when I look back at how the year started and how things are now, hope is one of the many things I am thankful for.
Hello 👋 and welcome to another episode of Hope Alive newsletter and podcast. I trust you have been good and how do you feel in this season of Christ’s birth? Today’s episode is focused on Hope. May your hearts, spirit and souls be blessed.
There are certain situations you will face in life that would want to make you give up on your dreams and yourself. Those moments might be difficult to share with your parents, friends, or those you would normally reach out to for help. Maybe that is the onset of real adulthood and accepting responsibility. But really, who do you turn to then?
It is dangerous to dwell on this moment for too long because we would lose the very substance of life—hope.
It’s no surprise that Paul sees how important it is to remain hopeful, and he prayed this over the Romans.
Romans 15:13 NKJV
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Abounding in hope is what God wants from us. Many would be the afflictions, but in the midst of all, will we remain hopeful? I believe this hope in us is what will attract others to the God we serve.
Focus on the second sentence of this next verse.
1 Peter 3:15 AMPC
But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.
God expects us to be hopeful at all times, and our hope should be so evident that it attracts men to us.
Keeping hope alive is a way to create opportunities for evangelism and talk to people about Jesus. So, if we decide to lose hope and do not care about keeping hope alive, we are not causing our lights to shine before men. Then how can God be glorified? What in you will attract men to God?
Keeping hope alive will benefit us and help us not give up on life; however, it goes beyond that.
While we think about ourselves, we should also consider others, especially those whom God intends to reach through us.
But what should keep us hopeful?
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 AMP
Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day. For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]! So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable.
The things we see, including the afflictions and distress, are transient; we should look at the glory ahead.
In addition to this, our real Hope is Christ. When we have Jesus, we have all.
To remain hopeful is to remain connected with Jesus Christ by renewing our dependence on Him daily.
Without Christ, there is no hope.
Colossians 1:27 NKJV
To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
People and things we hold onto could slip away from our hands, and friends and those we trust may turn their backs on us.
So, who do we turn to in those moments? Who becomes our safe place?
We should turn to the Hope of glory; we should turn to Christ. He is also the hope that we should always be ready to defend. He is the Hope people around us need to see and then seek us out for.
The good news is that as long as we hold on to this Hope, we can be confident that Christ will remain the Anchor of our souls, irrespective of the pressures of life.
He is our safe and steadfast Hope.
Hebrews 6:19 AMP
This hope [this confident assurance] we have as an anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whatever pressure bears upon it]—a safe and steadfast hope that enters within the veil [of the heavenly temple, that most Holy Place in which the very presence of God dwells]
As the year comes to an end, are you still hopeful? What is your current state of mind about life and your future? I am thankful that I had the Hope of glory through 2024, and I still have Him.
So, have you given up, or are you on the verge of losing hope?
Why not look to Jesus again? Trust that you can be brought out of the miry clay and rooted on a solid foundation again with God.
Look to Jesus and let your hope in Him remain alive. Let Him be the Hope living deep inside of you at all times.
PRAYER: May the new year bring progress and establishment in all areas of life for you and your loved ones.
P.S-- Unless otherwise stated, All scriptures are from the Amplified Bible Classic version.
#keepinghopealive #hopealive #Christalive #Christinme #keepinghopealive #gbenrocomfort
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