Hope-fully

I totally forgot yesterday was Saturday, so I apologize for the delay in writing this.  It's been such a strange time.  

We're in the little in-between bit from Christmas to New Year and here in the UK our area has gone into the highest tier of the lockdown system, meaning we can't socialise or do very much.

It's a time when we could feel discouraged or hopeless; what will 2021 be like?  Are things ever going to be back to normal?  When will I be able to see my family & friends again?  

BUT as we come to the end of what has been a very odd year, we of all people should have hope!

David said in the Psalms: 
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. (42:11)

He looked at his soul (his emotions) and realised he was feeling down!  Most of us, when we consider how we feel would say 'oh I'm feeling down' and would leave it there, But David gave himself a stern talking to. He said to himself don't be down - Hope in God!  

That word hope is amazing.  In Hebrew there's more than one word for hope, but they all talk about expectation.  One means 'to make a refuge in' and another 'to confide in', but they all about more than simply hoping for nice weather tomorrow.

In Greek, the word means to anticipate, usually with pleasure; a constant and optimistic expectation that good is coming!

Hope is powerful.  Hope is about what you can see with they eyes of faith before we can see with our physical eyes

Romans 8:24 says "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why doth he yet hope for?"

Hope is about imagining what we can't see, knowing that it is so, because the Word says it is.  Let us be people who use the word 'hopefully' to his full meaning - let us hope fully in what God says!

Hope is about reminding ourselves whose we are, reminding ourselves what Jesus has done, and what he has promised us!  How can we not have hope on God?  Do you think he will leave us?  Do you think he's shocked by what is going on in the world? Do you think he is thrown by where we find ourselves.  No! No! No!

God is still working all things together for our good, he's still in the business of saving, healing and setting free his people, and he's most definitely into empowering his people to work miracles, defeat darkness, and spread the good news!

Today if you are feeling downcast, it is time to stir up what is within you!  The HOPE of glory; Christ in you!  It's time to give yourself a talking to, as David did and ask yourself why are you so downcast?  What have you got to be down about when you have Christ within you!  Really?  Go to imagining with the eyes of faith what 2021 will be like! If you are a Christian, it can be good! Regardless of whether or not you are locked down.  It doesn't matter where you are, there is hope and his name is Jesus.

This is my last blog in 2020. My prayer is, that 2021 starts with a revelation of God's goodness and grace, and a hope and expectation that good things are coming for you, for you first, and then so you may demonstrate the Kingdom of God to others.  

Happy New Year.