Putting our Hope in Jesus gives us the confidence to live this life with peace and joy, no matter what is going on around us.
“All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.” 1Jn 3:3 NIV
So when we place our Hope in Jesus, we are trusting in the written Word of God, as well as the Incarnate Word of God. First let’s talk about the Bible, the written Word. There are so many wonderful promises in Scripture that can stimulate our Faith so that we can live this life with increasing peace and joy. To be able to think clearly, discerning truth from lies, then deleting those lies from our heart and mind so we do not act according to them, will vastly improve the quality of our lives. To be able to stay stable emotionally, regardless of our situations, will give us the tranquil life that we desire. To be able to desire only that which will truly be a blessing to us, and those around us, will lead to a freer, unburdened and joyful life. The more we hold on to God’s promises, the more we can think clearly, be emotionally stable and want only what is truly good.
For instance, when God promises in Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” We can let go of any fear from any scary situation and hold on to peace because we trust that God is with us. We do not have to fall into the temptation of worry because God is our loving God Who provides for His children. Also we can move forward and do whatever we must do, because God will strengthen us, helping us to do whatever it is we must do. See how trusting this verse alone can add to the amount of peace and joy we experience in life? And why? Because we choose to place our Hope in the written Word of God.
Join me in memorizing 52 verses this year:
January: 1- Jn 3:16; 2- 2Co 5:17; 3- Jas 2:26; 4- Eph 2:10
February: 5- Jn 10:10; 6- Ro 6:23; 7- Rev 21:4; 8- Php 4:13
March: 9- 1Pe 5:7; 10- Jn 8:32; 11- Dt 30:19; 12- Jn 3:30; 13- 2Chron 20:3
April: 14- 2Chron 20:12; 15- 2Chron 20:15b; 16- 2Chron 20:17
May: 17- Ro 8:28; 18- 1Co 13:13; 19- Php 2:12; 20- Mt 5:4
June: 21- Lk 23:42; 22- Jas 4:7; 23- Pr 22:6; 24- Mt 5:3; 25- Jn 14:6
July: 26- Jas 2:19; 27- Dt 31:8; 28- Jn 14:15; 29- Jn 8:11
August: 30- Ro 8:1; 31- Pr 4:23; 32- Pr 18:21; 33- Ps 118:24; 34- 1Jn 4:4
September: 35- Mt 16:24; 36- Isa 53:6; 37- Ps 23:1-6
October: 38- Heb 4:12; 39- Jn 15:5
40- Jas 5:16
41- 1Jn 3:1
42- 1Jn 5:12
43- 1Jn 3:3
<>< Peace, Diane
