Faith: Hebrews 11:1-2

Heavenly Blue Morning Glory

^1-2The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.
Hebrews 11:1-2The Message (MSG)

Faith, to me, is personal a relationship with God. I think I’ve always had faith, but at times my faith was immature. It was more about what I wanted than trusting God. During my early years, I didn’t feel God’s love for me even though it was there. As I have grown and matured in faith, I now feel surrounded in God’s love. My faith has changed me from being needy and feeling alone, to basking in God’s love and wanting to share it. To me, faith is trusting in God, our firm foundation, our hope for things to come. Faith does make life worth living.

How firm is your foundation in faith?

Prayer: Dear Lord, teach us to put our faith in You. Help us to faithfully build our foundation on You and Your word. The beautiful colors of the “heavenly blue morning glory” look like the sun radiating out into the clouds and sky. Teach us in faith to reflect the radiating love and compassion of Jesus Son of God. Thank you for making our lives worth living. We praise you. Amen

I Will Praise You – Psalm 71:14

¹⁴But as for me, I will always have hope and I will praise You more and more. ¹⁵My mouth will tell about how right and good You are and about Your saving acts all day long. For there are more than I can know.
Psalm 71:14-15 (NLV)

Lord, we will praise you, more and more, for you are our everlasting hope. You are our light, our salvation, our stronghold in life. To you, we raise praises and songs of joy. We are thankful for your forgiveness, your love, and your abounding mercies. We proclaim and declare Your wondrous deeds.

How will you share the goodness of God?

Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank you for your many blessings. Like the petals on the wild sunflower, we aren’t perfect, but you love us with your everlasting love. Thank you for your forgiveness and grace. As these petals radiate around the flower center, teach us to let our praises radiate up to you. Lord our hope rests in you. In Jesus’s name. Amen

Hope Within: Hebrews 10:23

Garden Mums – blooming now

³So now we must cling tightly to the hope that lives within us, knowing that God always keeps his promises! ²⁴Discover creative ways to encourage others and to motivate them toward acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love.
Hebrews 10:23-24 The Passion Translation (TPT)

A while ago, I started a prayer journal. In the journal, I made notes of the people that needed prayer, personal requests, and worries I wanted to give God to handle. Looking back at the journal pages, what do I see? Hope! Hope from answered prayers, hope in God’s continuing protection, and hope within me to rely on God’s guidance through life’s storms. Yes, I am clinging tightly to hope, knowing that God always keeps his promises.

Where have you encountered hope?

Prayer: Dear Loving Lord, Like the mums in the garden, which faithfully bloom year after year help us to cling to hope and faithfully follow You. Let us be bright and beautiful like the blossoms. Teach us to have hope within and encourage and motivate others toward compassion and beautiful works as expressions of love. In Jesus’s holy name. Amen

Peace and Joy: 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.
Romans 15:13 (NIV)

Trust in God, give Him your worries, listen to Him, and love Him. This brings hope. Today, may this hope from God fill you with joy and peace. May you walk in trust with Him and feel His love.

When do you feel God’s peace and joy?

Prayer: Dear Lord, let our trust in You, be bold and bright like these blooms. Like the shiny leaves glow, let us shine with joy. May our peace grow and blossom. Thank you, Lord, for your grace and abundant love. In Jesus Holy name. Amen.

Poured Out: Romans 5:5

Now this hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 5:5 (ISV)

Prayer: Lord, like these flowers glow in the sun, let your love glow through our actions. Let our hope remain open and bright like the coreopsis blooms. Let us blossom in your love. In Jesus name. Amen.

Devotional: Our God is awesome, He is a God of Love. He not only loves us, but He is Love. God loves us because of who He is not because of who we are. In the Bible, God showed His love for sinners. He healed them, ate with them, and forgave them. Jesus never turned away anyone who came to Him for forgiveness. When we confess our sins, He forgives us. We often put roadblocks into place by not feeling worthy of His love, but God is love!

What roadblocks are blocking you from hope?

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