What Faith Does

Faith makes life possible in both natural and spiritual ways. For example, by faith we pursue education or training, believing it will help us get a job.

By faith, I pursued a relationship with the man I would marry, believing him to be trustworthy. He proposed, I accepted, and he proved true in fifty-two years of marriage.

Faith is a basic requirement. By faith, we believe God exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

People of faith are steady, not flighty. They’re focused on fulfilling a desire or goal. We’ll look at examples in the “Hall of Faith” (Hebrews 11).

Faith can help us do three things: 1) Persevere, 2) Endure, and 3) Never Give Up.

Perhaps because I’ve lived in the Southwest desert, I admire Noah and his three sons for building a huge ark in a barren land. There was no water in sight, and rain was unheard of (Genesis 6:5-9:29). What an example of perseverance (Hebrews 11:7).

Mankind was so wicked, God was sorry He had created them. Yet, Noah was recorded as a blameless and righteous man who walked with God (Genesis 6:5-9). He was a misfit!

When you’re swimming against the current of wickedness, continue to persevere. God sees you, too. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous . . . (Psalm 34:15).

From childhood to old age, Moses is an example of endurance. His life was full of challenge and change (Hebrews 11:23-29). He wrote the first five books of the Bible, so we learn about his life there.

David was the man who never gave up. As a young shepherd, he was anointed to be King (1 Samuel 16). It was years before this happened, and often he was running for his life. As king, he had an affair with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, and even had Uriah murdered (2 Samuel 11-12).

But when God sent the Prophet Nathan to confront David about his sin, he humbled himself and asked God for forgiveness. Read his prayer in Psalm 51.

By faith, choose to persevere, endure, and never give up. That kind of faith will be rewarded on Judgement Day when we will be judged for our deeds (Revelation 20:11-15).

Pixabay:

How To Make the Best of Our Time

We’re facing a NEW year. Isn’t it great? By the time twelve months have passed, we’re all ready for a new start. Hopes run high for improvements with personal New Year resolutions.

In one of the oldest psalms in the Bible, Moses wrote, “Satisfy us in the morning with Your loving devotion, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:14). As a caregiver, I can tell you I gratefully experienced God’s loving devotion and new mercies every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).

God created time - - - days, years, and seasons - - - but He is not bound to it nor limited by it (Gen. 1:14-18). We’re the ones who live just one day at a time, and each day brings new challenges and a need for more decisions.

In Psalm 90, Moses says our basic life span is 70 years, or perhaps 80 if we’re strong (Psalm 90:10). We often hear of people living beyond 100 years, but the bottom line remains the same. We all live one day at a time, and we cannot count on tomorrow (Proverbs 27:1; James 4:13-17).  

Determine to live your best life this year, one day at a time!

Moses wrote, “Teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).  

And David said that wisdom begins with a healthy fear of the LORD, plus a heart to follow His precepts (Psalm 111:10).

In view of that fact, be wise in perseverance this year:

I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes (one day at a time),

even to the very end (Psalm 119:112).

Pixabay: Time, Time Management, Time Planning, geralt.

 

  

How's Your Hearing?

 

Have you ever heard this conversation?

 “Hey, did you hear me?”

“What? Oh. Sorry. I wasn’t listening.”

Or, how about a radio ad? “We’re presenting (whatever kind of music) for your listening pleasure.” In other words, relax, keep us in the background. You don’t have to concentrate on us. 

I had a good relationship with my mother-in-law. She was easy to talk with, and I remember she would say, “Now, listen!” whenever she wanted to say something she felt was extremely meaningful---usually a good piece of needed advice.

Hearing and listening have been considered inter-twining acts throughout the ages. Listening is lightweight; hearing implies a deeper level of understanding.

My *Bible dictionary had a very brief, but interesting, article under EAR. Here are three examples from those mentioned:

         1. To incline the ear was to hear (2 Kings 19:16)

         2. To give ear was to pay careful attention (Job 32:11,12)

         3.  Covering the ears was a refusal to listen (Acts 7:51, 57)

As I studied my Bible lesson today, Jesus had some important, but hard, teachings. He knew not everyone would incline their ear. His opening line was “to those of you who will listen, I say . . .” (Luke 6:27-36).

Then came simple teachings that even a child could understand. But simple does not mean easy, and to this day, only those willing to truly hear, obey them.

What do YOU think of Jesus' teachings? (1) Love your enemies, (2) Do good to those who hate you, (3) Bless those who curse you, and (4) Pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27,28).

He also said: (5) Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and (6) Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful (v. 31, 36).

How’s your hearing? I’ve been asking myself that question today.

Do I truly incline my ear to hear ALL of Jesus’ teachings? Or, do I casually listen, then pick and choose what I want to hear and obey? It matters!

In the Parable of the Sower, the seeds on good soil are those who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop (Luke 8:15).

*EAR, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 448; Copyright 2003 Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, TN. All Rights Reserved.

Pixabay: Sound, Listening, Man; OpenClipart-Vectors.

Hope and Perseverance

I enjoy being part of a non-denominational Bible study. Last week’s lesson included the challenge of waiting on God.

A lady in my group said, “God is not a short-order cook!” I liked that. I said, “We go to the restaurant, place our order, and wait for our food. Why do we think God should answer our prayers at the snap of a finger?”

The psalmist had mentioned hard times before, but this time he says he’s worn out waiting for God to rescue him (Psalm 119:81). Have you ever felt that way? I have, but I also have learned that God does answer prayer in His own good time, and it’s worth waiting for (Ecclesiastes 3:11).                                                       

The psalmist was a realist who chose to focus on God, not his circumstances. He said, “I’ve almost been wiped from the earth, but I haven’t forsaken your precepts (v. 87). How well do we know God’s word? How committed are we to waiting on the Lord to fulfill His promises?

Like the psalmist, we should refuse to give up or give in. He believed God loved him and could revive him (v. 88). Because he had faith in God and His word, he was willing to stake his life on it, though it required waiting. (Read: Psalm 119:81-88).

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial. Because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12).

Under constant threats of death, Charlie Kirk persevered in his public testimony. His murder in broad daylight in front of thousands of witnesses was not the end. His death caused people worldwide to rally around his message of faith and freedom.

Charlie is an example of missionary C. T. Studd’s famous quote: “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Now the challenge is ours. How are we responding to it?

Pixabay: Adult, Alone, Bible; Pexels.

 

Shut In On Purpose

Usually, “shut-in” makes us think of someone who’s ill or has limited mobility. But did you notice the title lacked a dash? Today, I’m talking about being shut in by choice.

During devotional time, hymns or choruses often come to mind. Today, it was a chorus led by my dad. He had a good voice and would often lead the congregation in a chorus before preaching. No music needed.

I learned “Shut in with God” as a chorus. I didn’t know it was a song with three verses until I did a web search today. I found no record of who wrote it or when, but I’m retired and my memory of this song goes back about fifty years.

Let’s look at it closely:

Shut in with God in a secret place,

There in the Spirit beholding His face,

Gaining new power to run in the race.

I long to be shut in with God.

It came to mind today when I shut off my cell phone so I could concentrate on prayer.

Corporate prayers have their place, but private prayer is not to be neglected. Jesus often went by himself to pray (Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35, for example).

In *Matthew 6:6, Jesus taught that we, too, should have a time of private prayer. He said, “Go into your room, shut the door, and pray to your heavenly Father. He will see your secret private prayer and reward you openly.”

Prayer is a healthy spiritual choice. Jude says we are to keep ourselves in God’s love and build ourselves up in our holy faith by prayer. (Jude 20-21).

It’s great to go to the gym and make healthy food choices for our physical bodies. But we need to apply the same care to our spiritual lives. The truth is that we make time for things that are important to us.

Do you make it a point to be shut in on purpose? Yes? Great! You know what a blessing it is.

No? Why not? It’s an important spiritual decision. Plan to make a change today!

Pixabay: Window/Door; AILes.

*Based on this scripture, the Kendrick Brothers created a popular movie called “War Room.” If you haven’t seen it, check it out online. It’s well worth your time.

  

Keep On Walking

Don’t lose momentum! Serious walkers and runners stay focused. Standing or sitting around does nothing to enhance their consistent daily discipline to achieve their goal.

Psalm One talks about the gradual decline of momentum from walking to standing to sitting, but let’s look at the context.

Things worth pursuing require some kind of effort. Paul not only encouraged us to fight the good fight of faith, but at the end of his life, declared that he had also done it (1 Timothy 6:13; 2 Timothy 4:7).  

Psalm One, in only six verses, contrasts the godly and godless. Consider some of the differences:

The Godly are Blessed as They: (Verses 1, 2, 3, and 6)

• ·         Do not walk in the counsel, plans, or purposes of the ungodly.
• ·         Do not stand submissively or inactively in paths where the ungodly walk
• ·         Do not sit down to rest and relax with the ungodly who mock and scorn morality and spirituality
• ·         Desire God’s word, studying and meditating on it, keeping it in mind day and night
• ·         Prosper spiritually and are blessed as a healthy, maturing, fruit-bearing tree
• ·         Are fully known by God in all their ways, judged righteous before God

 The Godless, Wicked, or Morally Evil Are: (Verses 1, 4, 5, and 6)

• ·         Capable of doing great damage morally and spiritually
• ·         Disobedient, living without any consideration of God
• ·         Like chaff, worthless, no substance, easily blown about
• ·         Will not be able to stand before God’s righteous judgment
• ·         They and their ways will perish

Do you desire to be blessed by God?

Remember: Spiritual momentum is never lost all at once. It’s a gradual decline.

We let our choices get lax in things like Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, Christian fellowship, or moral purity.

To be blessed:

• ·         Choose wisely and keep on walking in God’s ways.
• ·         Choose to stand after you’ve fought a good fight of faith, wearing the armor God has provided (Ephesians 6:10-18).
• ·         When you choose to sit, remember to be careful about your choices of relaxation---where you go, what you see, hear, or do.

Pixabay: Walkway, Sidewalk; Openicons.

 

Get a Grip

Have you ever felt life was so overwhelming that you were losing control? A well-meaning friend may have said, “Get a grip!” 

It’s a way of saying, “Come back to your senses, don’t give up, make a decision, and move on!” Remember, life is a marathon, not a sprint, a race of spiritual endurance over the long haul.                             

This Endurance Race has guidelines. Hebrews 12:1-3 lists three things we need to do:

1.    Throw off anything that would hinder us

2.    Fix our eyes on Jesus

3.    Don’t grow weary and give up 

Jesus, in verse 2, is our example. It says He endured the cross while:

1.    Keeping in mind the joy awaiting Him,

2.    Despising the shame, and

3.    Disregarding hostility from sinful people 

When Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me,” it was an invitation to deny ourselves and do His will moment by moment (Mark 8:34-38). It’s another way we can say, “Not my will, but Thine be done.”. 

Let’s consider ice skaters and football players. Do you think they enjoy hours and hours of physical hardship and repeated practice to build up their endurance? Hebrews 12:11 says no discipline is enjoyable while it’s happening. It’s painful! 

But consistent discipline will pay off. They will be tested, and winners will be rewarded with a title, a trophy, a medal, or an honorary ring. 

It’s hard to imagine that winners in Roman games were rewarded with a laurel crown. You’ve probably seen pictures of that. At the time of presentation, it was a nice ring of beautiful green leaves. While it was green, their honor was visible, but it would not stay green forever. 

Our reward, however, is eternal. It’s worth enduring hardships and discipline because it will last forever. Paul believed that. Here’s his testimony in his latter days (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

·         I have fought the good fight

·         I have finished the race

·         I have kept the faith

·         I’ll receive a crown of righteousness

·         From the Lord, the Righteous Judge 

So, get a grip! Do not become weary in well doing; keep pressing on (Galatians 6:9). Look to Jesus for help. He’s the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Pixabay: Excess, Weary, Enough; geralt.  

Down But Not Out

Is there anyone who can say, “I’ve never felt hopeless, depressed, or extremely down? That’s when it’s important to be honest with God.

As a shepherd, David enjoyed the great outdoors. But once King Saul knew David was anointed to be king, he and his army pursued David with the intent to kill.

While fleeing for his life, David often ended up hiding in caves. In Psalm 143, he said dwelling in darkness made him feel God was hiding from him (v. 3). Yet by faith, he declared his trust in God and prayed for God to deliver him from his enemies (v. 8-9).

I remember a time of despair in college. I had always felt the presence of God in my daily Bible reading, but now the joy was gone. The words no longer came alive to me, but I kept on reading.

I would point to the scriptures and say, “Lord, I believe this though I don’t feel a thing.”

I can’t tell you when it happened, but I know at some point my despair was gone. I not only had the joy of the Lord but the issue causing my despair was resolved.

James said we show our faith by our actions (James 2:18). David did this by lifting his hands and asking God to hear and answer his prayers (v. 1, 6, 7). I did it by pointing to the scriptures and declaring, “I believe it, though I don’t feel it.”

Whether you want to call our acts perseverance or endurance, the point is both David and I fit the down but not out category.

Have do you act when spiritually or emotionally down? Do you tell yourself to hope in God?

Once again, David sets a fine example with some honest self-talk.

In Psalm 42:5 he says, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God for I will yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence.”

The next time you’re “down,” tell yourself “I’m not out!” Then follow up with a personal declaration of faith in God.  

Pixabay: Stone, Red Sandstone; makamuki0.

 

My Favorite Four-Letter Word

I hear this word five days a week at the end of *Allen Jackson NOW. This is a new half-hour program where Pastor Jackson of Murfreesboro, TN handles pertinent topics with interviews, then ends with a pastoral perspective. He closes by saying, “I believe we have more reasons for hope than despair.”

Love used to be my favorite word, but it varies from the mundane to the sublime. I love lemon pie, I love going on vacation I love my husband, I love God and God loves me.

Levels of love seem to vary, depending on other people; however, hope is a personal choice.

Job is one of the best examples of hope. His wife had no patience with his suffering. She said, “Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God and die.”

To Job’s credit, he let her negativity float on by. Hope was his choice, and he would not give it up. He said she was speaking foolishly and concluded with this: “Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?” (**Job 2:9-10)

When three well-meaning but non-comforting friends came by, Job had an even stronger answer: “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.” (Job 13:15). His hope gave him the strength to stay focused on his faith.

Hope results in joy. Characteristics of believers are to include being joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and persistent in prayer. (Romans 12:12) Thank God for the work of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Scriptures to help us develop these three things in our lives.

If you have not read the book of Job lately, now would be a great time to do so.

Job’s story is one of personal patience, perseverance, and his choice to endure. The way I see it, hope might have been Job’s favorite four-letter word, too.

*Allen Jackson NOW is available on TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) Monday through Friday. I watch on DISH, but if you prefer streaming look for their app at tbn.org.

**All scriptures are from the Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible (BSB), Published by Bible Hub, Pittsburg, PA, USA, Copyright 2022, Used by Permission.

Pixabay Illustration: I pulled this one years ago for my picture file. That was before I knew I was to credit someone. 

Some Positive Self-Talk

Only a hermit could avoid knowing our world is in an uproar right now. Where is peace to be found? Perhaps closer than you think.

This week Psalm 42 caught my attention in *The Everyday Life Bible. David was indulging in a little self-talk, and he didn’t gloss anything over. He was disturbed by the taunts of people who constantly needled him saying, “Where is your God?”

He asked God, “Have You forgotten me? My taunting enemies feel like a crushing of my bones. But I remember days past when I walked before You, leading a procession of people into Your house for worship, a time of joy. I know that you still love me and I worship you with songs in the night.”

A little self-talk can be a good thing. While acknowledging his earthly trials, David admitted that he was downcast, feeling hopeless and discouraged. Twice he asked himself, “Why are you in despair, my soul? Why have you become disquieted and restless within me?” (Psalm 42:5, 11)

The point is that he didn’t stop there; he gave himself a positive solution: “Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him.” By faith, he was not giving up; he expected God to answer. Notice an important three-letter word: “For I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.”

David declared in verse one that he thirsted for God like a deer pants longingly for streams of water. Think about it . . . cool, refreshing, life-giving water. How deep is your desire to know God? Remember, one way to know Him is to read His word. 

Do you ever reflect on why something is bothering you? Do you take time to indulge in some uplifting self-talk? Do you praise God for the good things He has done for you in the past? Do you see solutions in His word?

There’s nothing wrong with admitting things are tough right now, YET, like David, let’s choose to put our hope in God.

The Everyday Life Bible, Amplified Version, Featuring Notes and Commentary by Joyce Meyer, Faith Words, New York, Copyright 2006

World Illustration from Pixabay.

Consistent Effort Pays Off

It’s pumpkin season. I’ll bet you’ve seen plenty around, but have you seen one that weighed 2,749 pounds?  

My friend saw this huge pumpkin on TV. I had read about it and was shocked to learn that the winner received nine dollars a pound. He had entered the 50^th World Champion *Pumpkin Weigh-off contest in Half Moon Bay, California.

He won by giving his pumpkin patch extra care. He watered up to twelve times a day and fed and fertilized a bit more than usual.

The challenge was not only growth but transportation. It had to be moved from Minnesota to California. When asked why he tries to win, Travis said “I put in the work so I can see a smile on people’s faces . . . ”

Jesus told a parable about the payoff of consistent efforts. People were given different talents to invest. It wasn’t the amount that mattered, but how they handled it (Matthew 25:14-30 NKJV).

I’m thinking about the opportunity we have to read the Bible daily. We’re not all going to be theologians, understanding the minutest details of scripture. But we can get the big picture. God loved us enough to put His eternal goals for us in writing.

Scripture reading is not meant to be burdensome. In fact, there’s a daily payoff if you consider how to apply it to your life. Devotional books have their place. They’re a small daily spiritual jumpstart. Or perhaps they’re a spiritual snack, but what about pursuing “The Bread of Life” or the “Meat of the Word?”

If Jesus called you home today, would you see Him smiling and saying, “Well done (your name), you’ve been faithful over a few things . . . enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matthew 25:21 NKJV).

Isn’t an eternal reward worth more effort than raising a gigantic pumpkin that will eventually perish?

Consistent effort in a pumpkin patch paid off. Maybe it’s time to consider upping your effort for a spiritual payoff by reading your Bible a little more.  

Psalm 119 says it's a win now, but the bigger payoff will be Jesus’ “well done” greeting, along with a smile. 

*Pumpkin Weighing 2,749 Lbs. Wins California Contest, Sets World Record for Biggest Gourd, Online ABC News Report, 10/09/23 (Winner: Travis Gienger of Anoka, Minnesota).

Photo from Pixabay, Pumpkin Orange Harvest

My Favorite Word

Where would we be without words? We might get tired of playing charades to communicate, for one thing. And those of us who enjoy word games like Scrabble or puzzles like Word Search would miss out on lots of fun.

You don’t have to be an expert communicator to know that words have power. They can sting or soothe, wound or heal, and even discourage or encourage. It’s a negative vs. positive choice.

Life gets better with positive self-talk. We don’t always have people around when faced with discouragement or options which all feel negative. When on our own, we need to encourage ourselves.

That’s why I love the word HOPE! There's an old saying: Where there’s life, there’s hope. A more truthful version might be this: Where there’s life, there’s the option of hope. Hope is not an automated response; it’s a purposeful choice.  

People of hope look to the future. They maintain their purpose and goals in the face of hardship. They focus forward with optimism, inspiration, and a never-give-up attitude.

Without hope, people become pessimistic, cynical, desperate, or despondent. They may seem unpleasant because they often refute attempts to cheer them up and prefer to ignore reasons to hope.

Here’s my favorite scripture about my favorite word: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope (Romans 15:13 ESV).

How do we get the benefits of such hope? By prayer, which is simply talking to God. 

Philippians 4:6-7 in The Message puts it this way: Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns . . .

It concludes with this thought: . . .  it’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. My hope starts there.

  

Seeds Anonymous

I’m not a gardener, so I have no advice in that area. I am a seed, however, just like you. Which of us has never felt like a dot-sized seed in the huge field of humanity?

One tiny seed journaled its thoughts:

                Page 1:  I am only a small seed and I feel like a tiny dot in this world. I know my feelings are based on my outward appearance. My importance lies on the inside, unseen but powerful. One day I will be planted, though I don’t know when or where. I do know I will grow at my God-given rate and my life will make a difference.

               Page 2:  Here I am---just a dot in this huge field, but I’ll remain in place, growing and producing what is within me. Eventually this field will be harvested and the grain distributed. My life will continue in a new way, but no one will know which life-supporting grain came from me.

      

 Page 3:  Harvest is over. This field has been plowed and my roots are resting in the sun. I lived a full life, did what I could, and even now I’m enriching this field for the seeds that will follow me. I’m still unknown, but fame was not my goal. I simply wanted the personal satisfaction of a life well-lived.

Day after day our world is blessed by unknown people. Like the little seed, they choose to remain faithful to their jobs, their families, their employers and themselves, living out their religious and moral principles.

Good deeds are important and will be rewarded. According to Matthew 6:1-4, Some people make it a point to let people know what they are doing. Earthly praise is their reward.

If we try to do good works without being noticed, our Father in Heaven judges the motives of our hearts and His will be a heavenly reward.

Albert Schweitzer, a Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1952, said, “The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”

You are important. Together, as members of “Seeds Anonymous,” these shared traits can make a difference:

Kind hearts our gardens,

Kind thoughts our roots,

Kind words our flowers,

Kind deeds our fruits.

(Author Anonymous)

 

Acorns and Oaks

 

Whenever I see a nursery truck hauling small trees to a landscape site, I think somebody is certainly getting a nice start on their yard. At the same time, I marvel that someone way before that had to plant a sapling, and before that a seed.

You’ve probably heard big trees from tiny acorns grow. They do, but it takes time. It seems Nature’s rule is a gradual growth in all things.  

Somewhere along the way, we moderns have lost sight of the value of acorns, spiritually that is. How many parents take time to read their child a Bible story or even talk about one? 

We have the easy option of sitting a child down in front of a TV for illustrated Bible stories, but that should never replace personal time with a parent for meaningful reinforcement.

Children love to learn, and I happen to think knowing the Books of the Bible is a valuable skill. It’s sad to see how many adults missed out on that acorn blessing as children.

They know there’s an Old Testament and a New Testament. They may even know Psalms is in the middle and Matthew begins the New Testament, but trying to locate a scripture is like trying to muddle through a foreign language.

You’re never too old to learn if you really want to. When I was doing a one-on-one weekly Bible study with an older lady new to her Christian faith, we started each lesson by looking at her Bible’s Table of Contents and saying the names of all the Books together.

She would say them at home, too, drawn in by the rhythmic sounds, day after day. Then we started breaking them apart. I would say a book of the Bible and she would name the next one.

No matter your age, I’m hoping you will receive the words of Proverbs 15:32 NKJV: He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.  

Perhaps you feel like a tiny acorn lost in a Bible forest, but don’t discount your option for growth. Plant yourself in your Bible and choose to grow.

Read the Table of Contents. As the names become familiar, call one out. See how quickly you can flip pages to get to chapter one. 

You are now in acorn growth mode; given time you’ll become a tree.      

My Favorite Four-Letter Word

 

I used to say it was love, but I have moved on to hope. Love is a very good word, but it varies from the mundane to the sublime: I love lemon pie, I love going on vacation, I love my husband, I love God and God loves me.

As a personal choice, hope ranks first. Levels of love may vary, depending on other people. For example, I expected lemon pie with meringue but it came with whipped topping. As for vacations, did I really love them all?

If I’m honest, my love for my husband went down at times of misunderstanding. And, though I love God, I don’t always fully understand how much He loves Me!

Job is one of the best examples of hope despite a challenging relationship. His wife had no patience with his suffering. She said, “Why don’t you just curse God and die?” (Job 2:9-10).

Job let her negativity float on by. Hope was his choice and he would not give it up: “Should I accept only good things from God, and nothing bad?”

He had an even stronger answer when three well-meaning but non-comforting friends came by: “Even if God kills me, I’ll still trust Him” (Job 13:15).

Job’s hope gave him the strength to stay focused on his faith.

Hope results in joy. A characteristic of believers is to be joyful in hope, patient

in affliction, and faithful in prayer (Romans 12:12, NIV).

Since patience and faithfulness are listed among the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), it would seem that hope, and the joy it brings, have a purpose.

Job’s story is one of patience, perseverance, and the ability to endure. The way I see it, hope might have been Job’s favorite four-letter word, too.