#hope4tomorrow – herbcotton.org

God Speaks – Hear The Word of God

The Wisdom of the Proverbs:

Proverbs 28:21 (NLT)

Showing partiality is never good, yet some will do wrong for a mere piece of bread.

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

Psalm 119:130 (AMP)

The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple.

The Hope of the Old Testament:

Daniel 6:25-27 (NLT)

Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: “Peace and prosperity to you!

“I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end.

He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

The Gospel Message:

2 Peter 3:14-16 (NLT)

And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.

And remember, the Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—

speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.

Observation and Prayer:

I love to read and hear the final words of godly and wise men and women. I commend to you the final words of Peter to the believers that were scattered to several places because of the persecution they faced for being believers in Christ and the Word of Christ.

2 Peter 3:17-18 (NLT)

I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.

Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

—

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

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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:

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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:

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How Do You Have A Good Day Every Day?

Text:

Proverbs 31:25 (NLT)

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.

Observation:

Perhaps we should look at the woman that the book of Proverbs closes with to find the secret of having something better than a good day; it shows us the character of a godly woman.

If we focus on the circumstances that we face each day, we will be overwhelmed, and discouraged most of the time. However, if we focus on God, and His perspective, we can have a godly day; and, this is possible to have every day.

Notice that this godly woman was able to laugh without fear of the future because she was clothed with strength and dignity.

What she had each one of us can have. This woman had the presence of God in her life. This is something that is available to you today.

Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Are you willing to loosen up? Are you willing to laugh, love, and lean on the Lord for your strength and dignity?

Proverbs 17:22 (NLT)

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for being our Father in heaven, and thank You for being the God who lives in the hearts of Your children.

Father, we are so grateful that the God who lives in us provides rest for today, and hope for all of our tomorrows.

Psalm 62:5 (HCSB)

5 Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him.

Father, in Your presence we live our lives day by day; drawing from You rest for today, and hope for tomorrow. In the might 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/

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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:

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