Friday Devotional...5/10/13

Carol Steficek is the latest writer to join the Staff of Women's Focus Ministries. This is her first devotional that I have posted today. It contains excellent food for thought and will help readers to "paint God into their days." I am thrilled to be able to welcome Carol to this ministry to women.
Cod bless
Corinne Mustafa

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Hope is a gift to us from God.

Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord.”
 Jeremiah 17:17

     Reading the morning headlines and listening to the news reports on television does not give us much “hope.”  With the latest bombing, out-of-control fires, or major earthquake we do take notice.  But for much of the world’s violence and natural disasters many of us have almost become insensitive to the turmoil and chaos ruling our society and the world.  There seems to be no hope for things getting better.

      Even our personal lives have become a constant stressor to most of us, as we see in the statistics of strokes, heart attacks, high blood pressure, obesity, and other diseases and illnesses.  Then there is the stress of living in a society which is seeking to drive God out of its’ land.  Standing up for what is Biblically correct is no longer “politically” correct.

     The effect of a world increasingly going its way without God is exerting its effects upon all of us, even Christians.  Trying to live “in” this world and yet not be “of” this world is becoming more and more difficult.

    

So when our outlook for the future becomes bleak, our strength and health fails us, we live lives with way too much stress – where do we look for “hope”?  We need God.  Why is it we try to solve all problems and then go to God as a “last resort” when we should go to Him as our first and only “hope”?  Where do we find Him?  In His Word.

“My soul languishes for your salvation, I hope in your word.”
 Psalm 119:81.

     Take time every day to be with God in His Word.  You don’t know where to start – start with the book of John in the New Testament.  This is the Word about the Word made flesh, Jesus, who came to live among us.  He is our Hope.  Rest in His loving arms – He is there waiting for you!  Hope in Him!

Written by

Carol Lynn Steficek