Friday, August 27, 2010
HOPE IN THE LORD
Psalm 43:5 - Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Have you ever sat in a room full of people and observed different facial expressions? Many times, expressions give away what a person is thinking. As hard as we may try to conceal it, our expression, rather subtly or obviously, reveals our initial reaction to something we hear or see. Our countenance can often say what we may choose never to say out of our mouth.
Just as fear, hurt, anger, and other emotions show on our faces, our confidence in God will also show. On three occasions (Psalms 42:5, 42:11, 43:5), we find the psalmist asking the same question concerning the state of his inner-self, and then encouraging himself to hope in God.
Putting our hope in God is a little different than putting our faith in him. Our hope expresses our optimism, anticipation and excitement in God while in faith we hold to our confidence, conviction, and trust in God.
Regardless of what you’re going through, even as you read this devotional, don’t feel cast down. Hope thou in God! Praise him in faith! Your countenance will reflect what’s happening on the inside of you. Remember, we are persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed…(II Cor. 4:9)
Keep your countenance (facial expressions) hope-filled, for all the promises of God in him are yes, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. (2 Cor. 1:20)
Father, I thank you that you have given me hope; a And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost which you given unto me. Whatever I go through, help me to always put my hope with my faith and wait on you, serving with joy and gladness in anticipation of what you’ve promised me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Psalm 43:5 - Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Have you ever sat in a room full of people and observed different facial expressions? Many times, expressions give away what a person is thinking. As hard as we may try to conceal it, our expression, rather subtly or obviously, reveals our initial reaction to something we hear or see. Our countenance can often say what we may choose never to say out of our mouth.
Just as fear, hurt, anger, and other emotions show on our faces, our confidence in God will also show. On three occasions (Psalms 42:5, 42:11, 43:5), we find the psalmist asking the same question concerning the state of his inner-self, and then encouraging himself to hope in God.
Putting our hope in God is a little different than putting our faith in him. Our hope expresses our optimism, anticipation and excitement in God while in faith we hold to our confidence, conviction, and trust in God.
Regardless of what you’re going through, even as you read this devotional, don’t feel cast down. Hope thou in God! Praise him in faith! Your countenance will reflect what’s happening on the inside of you. Remember, we are persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed…(II Cor. 4:9)
Keep your countenance (facial expressions) hope-filled, for all the promises of God in him are yes, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. (2 Cor. 1:20)
Father, I thank you that you have given me hope; a And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost which you given unto me. Whatever I go through, help me to always put my hope with my faith and wait on you, serving with joy and gladness in anticipation of what you’ve promised me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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