HOPE! This is a word that has been on my mind and in my heart lately. Last week during my morning devotions I read Psalm 71 and I was profoundly impacted by this Psalm. Particular verses stood out to me; verses that spoke of HOPE.

Psalm 71:5 “For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.”

“As for me, I will always have hope” (verse 14).

“Since my youth, God you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and grey, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come” (17-18).

As I meditated on this Psalm, for several days, I was reminded of God’s faithfulness to me since my youth. I was reminded of scripture verses that have been meaningful to me during different seasons of my life. As a young person and into my adult life Jeremiah 29:11 gave direction and HOPE – “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a future.” I cannot tell you how many times this verse showed up in my life when I needed encouragement and HOPE.

In January of this year I asked the Lord for a word for 2020. In prayer and meditation God gave me the word HOPE. I would not know at that time how significant that word would be for 2020. In recent days God has reminded me that my HOPE is to be found in Him. There have been days this year when I have felt a bit hopeless. The Covid-19 pandemic continues and we wonder when it will be over? What lessons are we to learn form this period of “pause” in our lives, in our families, in our churches, in our communities? I feel like God has been breaking through, in recent days, to encourage me to not lose HOPE and that my HOPE is found in Him.

As I continued to reflect on Psalm 71 and the word HOPE I was blessed on Sunday when the worship team at our church sang the song, “Goodness of God”. I was struck by the words of the chorus and they have been playing over and over in my mind since I heard it. “All my life you have been faithful, all my life you have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able I will sing of the goodness of God.” I realized the connection between that song and Psalm 71- the reason I have HOPE is because of the faithfulness of God. I can sing of the goodness of God because He has been faithful, and He has been the source of my HOPE! Praise the Lord!

January 2020 God gave me the word HOPE and a verse of scripture to claim throughout this year. Romans 15:13 “May the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.” This was a verse that was special to me as a Messenger of Hope (Sessional name for Salvation Army Officers). Today and this season it brings me encouragement. I pray that it brings you encouragement and HOPE today.

I encourage you to listen to one of these two songs today: “Goodness of God” and/or “Solid Rock”. Meditate on the words and allow them to sink deep into your heart.

Here are the words of the song Solid Rock as found in the Salvation Army Songbook #662

On Christ the Solid Rock

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus' name

Chorus:

On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

When darkness veils his lovely face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

His oath, his covenant, his blood
Supports me in the 'whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay

Prayer:

Creator God, thank you for your faithfulness to us. When all around there seems to be confusion and uncertainty place within us the HOPE that can only be found in You. Help us to use our breath to sing of your faithfulness because you have been so, so good, to us. May we sing with confidence that our HOPE is built on the solid foundation of your love, demonstrated to us through Jesus. Amen!