Brief Devotions For Busy Lives" by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson: Hebrews 10:23-25

 March 30

"Let us hold tightly without wavering to the Hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." - Hebrews 10:23-25 (NLT)

Why does Hebrews tell us to "hold tightly to hope"? It is because Hope grants courage to persist in hard times, rejoice in difficulties, and persevere in changing seasons. Hope does not disappoint but invigorates and activates the best within us. Hope will not give up or run away. Real hope grants us focus, establishes goals, and offers divine strength. The opposite of hope is hopelessness which manifests as depression- our most common emotional illness. However, one of the best and cheapest anti-depressants is thanking God for all the good he has bestowed on us. Thankfulness and praise can take our mind off present difficulties and focus our thoughts on God's ability to help us and hug us in hard times rather than our inability to help ourselves.

Hope grows from remembering all God has done for us and knowing that hope, faith, and love are eternal (I Cor. 13:13). While our relationship with God begins with faith, hope grows as we realize the good God intends for us. Hope gives us promises of a beautiful future guaranteed by God's love for us which renews our life while removing hopelessness and depression. We can also grow in hope by worshipping with other Christians and receiving their encouragement and support. When we gather together to share our faith and to strengthen one another, healing Hope grows quickly as we join together in trusting Christ. Yet it is only as we rest in the arms of Jesus love, that we can find everlasting hope. The next time you feel hopeless or afraid, look at your problem from Jesus' point of view. Christ is the source of all our hope!

Prayer: God of all Hope, Thank you for hugs and healing my hopelessness by granting me your everlasting hope. Amen.

Meditation For The Day: Hugs heal and bring hope.

Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring Renewal Paperback – February 21, 2017, by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author)