My hope is You.

My friend told me the other day that I should write a devotional.  To which I thought: yeah right.  I can barely get a shower in some days.  And I have to feel like I'm going to blow up to get anything on paper.  Not to mention, I do not have my stuff together.  I struggle, in so many areas it seems.  Especially lately.  It's been a testing season.  Those aren't my favorite.

But then I was in my bathroom, using my tongue scraper (the best invention, ever).  Well, maybe the second best, but it's a good one.  And I thought, I COULD write a devotional.  Because I am DEVOTED to God.  I am devoted to serving Him, loving Him, chasing Him.  And the bible doesn't say we won't be tested, it doesn't say we won't have trials.  It says to choose HIM when you do.  It says you WILL have victory in HIM.  It says…. James 1:2-3  "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience."

So now here I am, sitting down, in a towel, not ready for the day, and with somewhere to be soon.  And I'm saying…Jesus, you have my attention.  I will share the ways I choose you.  I will share, in a very candid way, what devotion looks like for me .  Oh, God, help.

I think of the intro to a devotional that I absolutely love, and helps me so often.  And I think of this woman carrying a purpose, and praying diligently about this project….this devotional that she wrote.  And I think, I'm jumping into this on a whim.  That makes me feel a little like I don't add up.  But then HE pipes up with an, ahem, excuse me.  "I don't make mistakes."  Maybe it's a personality difference.  And, that my friends, is more than OK. 

I pray a lot.  I pray with purpose.  This devotional thing is a new idea.  It was actually one that was given to me.  But it's from Him, so we're gonna run with it.

Here goes nothing.  Or something.  Or, a lot of somethings.


Day 1

HOPE.

Where is your hope? 

Is it in your career?  Is it in success?  Is it in how people view you?  Is your hope in money? Image?  Is your hope in your kids behavior? 

For about 3 months I have had a Third Day song stuck in my head.  It says:

My hope is you, show me the way, guide me in truth, in all my days……

I didn't know how much I needed those words, as they played on repeat in my head.  My spirit sometimes knows what my heart does not. 

My HOPE is HIM.  It really is.  He is my only hope, when I know any better.

And the thing about putting your hope in HIM…is that you are putting your hope in the ultimate Daddy.  The ONE who literally holds the world in His hands.  Makes you feel small, and like anything is possible huh?

In between the beginning and end of this, um, devotional, blog, thingy…My friend came over to work with me, and was sharing about her friend who is going through treatment for cancer.  This person is not doing well.  My heart hurt listening to her diagnosis, her treatment.   My heart hurt, but I didn't even have words.  I didn't know what to do. 

So I just listened, and then we continued to work.

And then the Holy Spirit just showed up.  I had an overwhelming sense of "want" for this person to be healed! Completely!  Like, get out of the hospital, have a miracle on outward, showing wounds….as well as every speck of cancer out of her body, NOW!  Only God could do this.  My hope is HIM.  When I initially heard, I was depleted…helpless, wordless.  I was sympathetic, but I couldn't do anything. 

And then He reminded me, that I could do something.  I COULD ASK.  I could ask for wisdom, guidance, healing.  That I'm allowed to, and He loves when I do.  So we did.  We asked for healing, and then some.   

Jesus, my hope is YOU.

Matthew     19:26    

                        

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with

                        God all things are possible.”

James        1:2-6   

                     2My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3knowing that the

                     testing of your faith produces patience. 4But let patience have its perfect work, that

                     you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5If any of you lacks wisdom,

                     let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be

                     given to him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like

                     a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

Psalm        146    

                  1Praise the Lord!

                  Praise the Lord, O my soul!

                  2While I live I will praise the Lord;

                  I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

                 3Do not put your trust in princes,

                 Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.

                 4His spirit departs, he returns to his earth;

                 In that very day his plans perish.

                 5Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,

                 Whose hope is in the Lord his God,

                6Who made heaven and earth,

                The sea, and all that is in them;

                Who keeps truth forever,

                7Who executes justice for the oppressed,

                Who gives food to the hungry.

                The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.

                8The Lord opens the eyes of the blind;

                The Lord raises those who are bowed down;

                The Lord loves the righteous.

                9The Lord watches over the strangers;

                He relieves the fatherless and widow;

                But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.

                10The Lord shall reign forever—

                Your God, O Zion, to all generations.

                Praise the Lord!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO3YscYbtI0