Bible Plan Week 4: Hope & Prayer
Bible Plan Week 4: Hope & Prayer
Another month down, this month has been one for the books that’s for sure. On top of being pregnant, dealing with rising hormone levels, fatigue, nausea and vomiting every other hour, exhaustion, being bloated like a hippo and crying at literally everything, then angry the next because someone left an empty pop tart box on the floor; we have had to deal with so much uncertainty financially and work wise. It just has seemed that no one is genuine in the work field anymore. Everyone is out for themselves and will belittle, demean and destroy everyone who doesn’t agree with them or is "too ethical". It saddens my heart and soul and makes me so frustrated that this is what we are surrounded with on a daily basis and it it just seems to be getting worse doesn’t it? I know I am not the only one who sees this and feels this way. Whatever happened to keeping your word? Or telling the truth? It seems be a virtue and moral of the past and is completely diminished and void of all hope. It pains my heart to have my husband come home and just be miserable and saddened to see what everything is turning into around him. He is punished for speaking up, telling the truth and doing the right thing. We have had to suffer for it financially time and time again because his job has been threatened and pay has been taken from and given to the corrupt people in his business. It pains us terribly, not only because it is happening now, but because we know wherever we go, it will continue. The old saying of, “nice people finish last” is 100% true. So when I say this month has been a month, you can have it!! I don’t want it anymore. But I have been still hoping and praying for our situation and that of the worlds. I know, (as I’m sure you do as well) the world will always be the same because of the fall of man and the sin we released onto the earth. All we can do is have hope and continue to pray. Continue to do good, tell the truth, be righteous, courageous and bold and to speak up for yourself.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
God knows 100% how this world is and how it will continue to be, so do we if we read the Bible. Do not stop doing good or living out his commandments just because it will be easier for you here on earth. I would rather suffer here on earth and live righteous in His eyes and live like a queen in heaven with my father; than have an easy, sinful life here on earth and face torment and suffer beyond any human comprehension for eternity. So continue to do good, have morals, be hopeful, pray often, love others, and live for HIM.
Psalm 37 says:
“Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither. Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land. Soon the wicked will disappear. Though you look for them, they will be gone. The lowly will possess the land and will live in peace and prosperity. The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance. But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming. The wicked draw their swords and string their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed, to slaughter those who do right. But their swords will stab their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich. For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly. Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever. They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough. But the wicked will die. The Lord’s enemies are like flowers in a field— they will disappear like smoke. The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers. Those the Lord blesses will possess the land, but those he curses will die. The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread. The godly always give generous loans to others, and their children are a blessing. Turn from evil and do good, and you will live in the land forever. For the Lord loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever, but the children of the wicked will die. The godly will possess the land and will live there forever. The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong. They have made God’s law their own, so they will never slip from his path. The wicked wait in ambush for the godly, looking for an excuse to kill them. But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial. Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed. I have seen wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil. But when I looked again, they were gone! Though I searched for them, I could not find them! Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace. But the rebellious will be destroyed; they have no future. The Lord rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble. The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in him.”
Psalms 37:1-40 NLT
Look at what our father tells us over and over and over again. Be honest and do good, for the rebellious and wicked will be destroyed. It is better to be poor and godly than rich and evil. If there is one thing God is telling us my friends, THERE IS HOPE. Hope is the strongest of all human emotions, stronger than love and fear. So why not put your faith & hope in the Lord?
During these hard times it has seemed near impossible to find hope and has felt like a chore to seek God and pray and it still may feel that or it may come in waves; uplifting highs, and daunting lows. That is what life is my friend, that is the consequences we all must face from Adam and Eve. But God finds us a way, he lights our path, he directs us back to him. Through prayer we can find hope again and again. We can find grace, forgiveness, love, faith, hope, anxiety cures, fearful thinking diminish all in the power and glory of HIS great name and in his great book; the Bible. It is all in there my friends! Love, forgiveness, grace, friendship, fatherly love, goodness in others, peace and hope. All we have to do to find it is pick up the Bible, immerse yourself in his words, in his glorious world within those thin fragile beautiful pages. Another way is through prayer. Prayer is a must, a constant, a life staple, and essential part of survival. It is the only way to make it through this world, through your situation and through life. I will admit that sometimes I don’t do it as often as I should, and those are the times I am affected the most; the worst. I fall down the rabbit hole of self loathing, anxiety, fear and anger, and that is exactly where the devil wants me! So I pick up his instruction book and immerse myself in His glorious light. I feel the anguish wash away from my soul and I am in his presence, then I know I am safe an nothing can hurt me. If you find yourself falling down the same rabbit hole, there is hope my friend. Pick up his book, immerse yourself in the world he has created for you, the world in which he intends you to live here on earth. I promise you will not regret it, you will find your way and he will show you the light and give you peace, hope, love and so much more!
So now my friends I leave you with swim words of wisdom!! I wish you all well and I am praying for every one of you!
Psalm 27
“The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. The one thing I ask of the Lord — the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music. Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “ Lord, I am coming.” Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation! Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close. Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me. Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I’ve never done; with every breath they threaten me with violence. Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”
Psalms 27:1-14 NLT
Love and Faith,
Mama J