September 3, 2018
Isaiah 40:31
NIV - But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
MSG - But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles. They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.
In preparation for today, I have been listening to "Get Your Hopes Up!" by Joyce Meyer. I was disappointed with myself for missing a week, because that miss was me being unfaithful, losing site of God, the peace of Jesus, and the hope of the spirit. I cannot be faithful if I have no hope. If I looked up all the Bible references to unfaithful, I wonder if they all start with, "Lynne, I told you..." I picked this verse today to remind me of how vital hope is every day.
My first read through I picked up 'hope' and 'wait' difference between the first two lines. But both are for a renewal of strength. Keep going and with the focus on God, I can renew my strength to keep fighting, keep trying, keep smiling, and (yeah I try to hide it but I do) keep singing.
When I hear this verse, I hear I need to be expecting what God is bringing. Be faithful, which means living with trust and confidence even if I am not sure of the outcome. I just have to keep going in the direction He is pointing. I am not supposed to know how it will work, so I cannot rely on myself. Hope in the Lord; wait upon God.
The "Do" part is pretty obvious now. I like that Joyce says that hope is not a passive emotion. It is a doing. If we are expecting guests, we prepare our home and maybe food to share. If we are expecting a baby, we get to buy diapers and adorable little clothes. Can we see all the outcomes? Not at all. But we can still be prepared for the arrival however that is given to us. Hope is the preparation for the outcome. Faithful is letting the outcome be out of our control.
Song of the day: Something Beautiful! Another Gaither favorite
Love to you all!
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