Tag: #hope4today

Who or What Is the Object of Your Faith?

Text:

Hebrews 11:1-2 (ESV)

1  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

2  For by it the people of old received their commendation.

Observation:

What is faith? Who or what is the object of your faith? The dictionary defines faith as, “Strong belief or trust in someone or something”.

I see faith everywhere. I see people walk into a place they have never been before, and sit down on a chair with the belief that it will hold them. The object of faith was a thing; the chair.

Faith involves many attributes. They include trust, belief, confidence, conviction, optimism, and hope.

Today, my mind is fixed on faith, and the object of my faith is God.Therefore, I turned to the bible for insight, instruction, and inspiration. The bible says this about the meaning of faith.

Hebrews 11:1 (AMP)

1  NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].

After defining faith, the bible say this about how God rewards, and honors faith.

Hebrews 11:2 (AMP)

2  For by [faith—trust and holy fervor born of faith] the men of old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a good report.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I am so grateful for the gift of faith, and I delight that my faith is in You. Father, I thank You for giving me a faith that works; a faith that turns dreams into action, and action into results.

Father, there is so much more to faith then this, and I look forward to continuing this discussion. But, I want to start this day demonstrating my faith by my works, which are also a gift from You.

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Father, help and empower Your children to workout what You have already worked within us. Father, I’m looking for showers of blessings as Your people trust in You. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
10  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Listen to all of the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

Why I Have Hope

Text:

Ephesians 1:11-14 (HCSB)

11  We have also received an inheritance in Him, predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will,

12  so that we who had already put our hope in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory.

13  When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.

14  He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.

Observation:

There is nothing more purposeful, powerful, or perfect than what God has done for those He has chosen to make their bodies the temple in which He will live in forever.

The Gospel of Christ is the goodnews, and Jesus is the hope of the world; the Messiah of God.

John 3:16 (HCSB)

16  “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

God has spoken, the goodnews is for everyone who believes in Jesus, and receives Him; it is God’s love gift to you.

Colossians 1:27 (HCSB)

27  God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

John 1:12-13 (HCSB)

12  But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name,

13  who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for loving us with an everlasting love, and for doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.

Father, I associate myself with the purpose that the Apostle Paul had when He heard the goodnews, and was born again, and Jesus came to live in Him.

Colossians 1:28-29 (HCSB)

28  We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

29  I labor for this, striving with His strength that works powerfully in me.

Father, we pray,  “Thy kingdom come”, and we ask that it would come today in the lives of Your children. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
10  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Listen to all of the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

Where Do You Turn In Times Like These?

Text:

Psalm 46:1-3 (ESV)

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2  Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

3  though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

Observation:

The people of God have always faced troubles in this world. One of the oldest books in the bible talks about the troubles that Job faced in his life.

Job 3:25 (ESV)

25  For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me.

You may be feeling the heavy weight of the season of trouble you are presently facing. Whatever your situation, you can identify with the people the Psalmist writes about, and you can identify with Job. All of us alive in this present fallen world face trouble at one time or another.

My hope and prayer to God is that you will find God to be your refuge just like the Psalmist, Job, and the saints of every age have found in God.

Our God is a great and good Father. He knows His people, and He is able to deliver us from trouble, and to keep us all of the days of our life.

In times of trouble God’s people have a refuge in Him, and they have access to Him by looking up to Him, and singing praise to His wonderful, and praiseworthy name.

Psalm 47:1-4 (ESV)

1 Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

2  For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.

3  He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.

4  He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah

Let everyone who loves the Lord, join with the host of God’s people in singing praises to the Lord. Singing praises will drive the pain from your life, and restore the joy of your salvation.

Psalm 47:5-8 (HCSB)

5  God ascends among shouts of joy, the LORD, among the sound of trumpets.

6  Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our King, sing praise!

7  Sing a song of wisdom, for God is King of all the earth.

8  God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Father, we delight to lift our voices in praise, and thanksgiving to You.

Father, we confess that You are our refuge, and our strength. Father, we are so thankful that You invite us to come to You, and to lean hard on You. We are so grateful for the hope, and the help that we have in You. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) 
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

How Do You Have Hope in Hard Times and in Hard Places?

Text:

Romans 12:12 (HCSB)
Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.

Observation:

No matter how hard life gets in this world, and yes, life in the world is hard, but the good news is that God is good, and the best is yet to come. In fact, Christ followers should “Rejoice in hope”.

Psalm 46:1 (NLT)
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

When things get hard in our life we can rest in the blessed assurance that, “God is our refuge and strength”.

We are weak but our God is strong. When trouble knocks on your door, ask the Lord to answer the door; the battle is not yours, but the Lord’s; and He is willing and able to help you.

1 Peter 5:7 (HCSB)
casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

Jude 1:24-25 (HCSB)
24 Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless and with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I acknowledge that I am weak, but you are strong. Father, I am grateful that the battle is yours, and not mines.

“Father, I stretch my hands to Thee;
No other help I know;
If Thou withdraw Thyself from me,
Ah, wither shall I go?”

So, I ask for your help; Father, with You as my protection, I can walk in the way that leads to victory over all the powers that oppose You, and your people.

Father, bind Your people together as we together with courage overcome the enemy of our soul. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) 
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry