Matters Of The Heart (SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER)

This page is dedicated to an area that goes much deeper than our garments - our heart! 
I Samuel 16:7 says, "... the LORD does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward
appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

September 2010 Devotional

TO HOPE

Job 11:13-19  " If you would prepare your heart, and stretch out your hands toward Him; if iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away, and would not let wickedness dwell in your tents; then surely you could lift up your face without spot; yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear; because you would forget your misery, and remember it as waters that have passed away, and your life would be brighter than noonday.  Though you were dark, you would be like the morning.  And you would be secure, because there is hope; yes, you would dig around you, and take your rest in safety.  You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid; yes, many would court your favor. "

Job 14:7-9   " For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its tender shoots will not cease.  Though its root may grow old in the earth, and its stump may die in the ground, yet at the scent of water it will bud and bring forth branches like a plant. "

Job 17:15  " Where is my hope? As for my hope, who can see it? "

Job 19:10  " He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone; my hope He has uprooted like a tree. "

Psalm 31:24  " Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD. "

Psalm 33:18  " Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy. "

Psalm 42:5,42:11,43:5  " Why are you cast down , O my soul?  And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in GOD, for I shall yet praise Him the help of my countenance and my GOD. " 

Psalm 71:14  " But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more. "

Proverbs 23:17 & 18  " Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; for surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off. "

Jeremiah 29:11  " For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. "

Romans 15:13  " Now may the GOD of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. "

Hebrews 10:23  " Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. "

      Well, after surviving the summer with the kids home from school and the computer down for those two months, I'm here to talk about hope.  With the kids back in school, its time for a new beginning. Its time for a new fiscal year with new hopes and new dreams. We are two thirds the way through the calendar year, so soon it will also be time to start the new 2011 year. New beginnings with new hopes are always around the corner. With each new day, week, month, new job, new place to live, etc. we have the opportunity to start over and try again.  Lets put behind us the failures and disappointments of yesterday and move forward to new ideas, new thoughts, new beliefs and maybe even second chances of do-overs.
     As I came across the passage above in Job 11, I thought how perfect these verses are for the miners trapped in Chile. If there is anyone needing to hang on to hope, its them. How steadfast in that hope they need to be until they are freed and see the light of day. (In keeping with February's devotional TO PRAY, please say a prayer for them today. They need all they can get.) You also may feel like you are stuck in a dark cave, wondering if you will ever get out. There is hope. Jeremiah 29:11(listed above) is for you.
     You may feel that the Job 14,17 & 19 passages apply to you. That the pruning of our Passionate Gardner has gone too far and you are cut down and uprooted so far that there is no hope for you. BUT, there is !!  When His love, mercy and healing power rain down on you, all will be gloriously and wonderfully new and refreshed and revitalized. 
     Though it may be and is usually hard to do, Psalm 71's encouragement and example is good. As we continually hope for our LORD's salvation, deliverance and healing, we need to praise Him more and more. I believe there is a scripture that talks about " the LORD inhabits the praises of His people", I couldn't find the reference number for it, but praising Him is important regardless of what is happening or not happening in our lives.
     Let us remain in hope.(Believe me when I say I'm preaching to myself too!) Somethings just take time to to develop and/or perfect. An oak tree doesn't become a nice big shade tree over night.

HAVE A HOPE FILLED DAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!