New Year's Hope

Sunrise*

There is a lot of hope as the new year rolls around. Do you feel it? You know that hope you feel at the start of a new day as the sun’s rising and your day stretches before you? That feeling, only multiplied. Reminds me of this verse:

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!” (Lam. 3:22-25 NKJV)

God is the God of hope, according to 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.

Aren’t you glad there’s always hope? God can turn things around in an instant. No matter the circumstances.

We’ve been through some trials in 2013, but through it all, even the suffering, God has shown up. He has graced us. He has provided for us. He has given us hope for the future. And He has turned things out for our good. Reminds me Romans 8:28 (NKJV)—

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  

So, what if hope is distant? Here are some hope finders:

** Hope comes from discovering God’s will, hearing from Him. Go to Him in prayer and ask for a word from Him. Sometimes personal prophecy has been just the encouragement we needed. If you have a prophetic friend who can pray for you, consider asking them to minister to you.

** Locate a promise in His Word and apply that promise to yourself, to your circumstances, by faith.

** Believing that God is with you. You are not forsaken. He could never forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)

** Believing that God will come through for you, provide for you, bring you through the situation, whatever it is. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (see Psalm 30:5) 

You never know the amazing blessings God is bringing your way, the breakthroughs, the answers to prayer. Hang in there. Sometimes humbling ourselves and reaching out to others is exactly the thing needed for breakthrough.

Here’s a hopeful verse to end on for today:

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jer. 29:11 NKJV)

With a promise like that, we can hang onto hope.

Have a hopeful New Year!

* photo credit: At Day's End by Jennifer Ellison on freedigitalphotos.net